PRIFYSGOL CYMRU : UNIVERSITY OF WALES

DEGREE EXAMINATIONS 1998

ABERYSTWYTH

FACULTY OF LAW

COMPUTER LAW (LAM0410)

Time Allowed - 2 hours

Answer TWO questions

  1. "As the most participatory form of mass speech yet developed, the Internet deserves the highest protection from governmental intrusion." ACLU v. Reno 11 June 1996.

    In the light of this statement critically discuss the legal problems associated with the regulation of communication on the Internet.

  2. It has been suggested that data protection is "inherently important to our general social welfare". (Lord Williams of Mostyn, HL Debates 2 February 1998)

    Critically assess the extent to which this importance is evidenced in EITHER

    (a) the Data Protection Act 1984,
    OR
    (b) the EC directive on data protection,
    OR
    (c) the Data Protection Bill 1998.

  3. Critically discuss the proposition that a more balanced approach to the protection of the intellectual property rights in computer software will be obtained by leaving the courts to interpret the existing provisions rather than by creating a detailed statutory regime for this purpose.

  4. "Criminal penalties are entirely inappropriate for those who misuse computers; technology specific statutes, aimed at this type of behaviour, should not be a part of the criminal law."

    Critically evaluate the way in which the law has been used to deal with the diversity of criminal activities associated with computers and their misuse.

  5. Critically consider the "shrink-wrap" licence problem.