Law and Technology LLM

This module examines the emerging challenges and possibilities posed by new digital technologies to law and governance in relation to both the public and the private sector. It explores the legal and regulatory frameworks governing these technologies and considers possibilities for socially and ethically responsible innovation in this emerging field. The module considers developments in institutional design and networked technologies, engaging critically with the growing role of finance, environmentalism, and global relations in digital ecologies.

This module maps the landscape of digital transformation and engages with cutting-edge ideas and practices in the field of digital technologies and law, including the challenges and opportunities presented by new digital technologies. The module will address questions of normativity, explore the social, ethical, and economic dimensions of digital disruption and innovation, and consider the implications of new technologies for social justice, privacy, and governance. Overall, this module provides a comprehensive overview of the key issues and debates at the forefront of digital transformation and provides critical tools and conceptual frameworks necessary to navigate this complex and rapidly-evolving field.

The Dissertation module gives you an opportunity to engage in independent research in a topic of your choice within the range of subject matter you have studied within other modules on the LLM in Law and Technology. You can choose to undertake a ‘traditional’ dissertation or take a project-based approach to the development of a speculative solution to a legal problem – the legal problem and/or the proposed solution needs to engage with technological aspects of the chosen legal subject matter. You’ll be supported through 1-to-1 supervision and research methods training workshops.

This module explores how technoscientific developments and the proliferation of expert voices in a variety of fields pose significant regulatory questions to legislatures and are captured by law. It explores a number of examples of how the interventions of those with technoscientific expertise in particular fields is governed and responded to through policy and regulation. It will provide opportunities for you to engage with notions of expertise, ethics, and governance.

This module explores the challenges posed by today’s digital technologies to the regulation and governance of data. You’ll critically evaluate the extent to which antagonistic interests – such as those informing the technology and innovation demands of the data-driven society, the need to protect the fundamental right to data protection and privacy, as well as other legal rights – are addressed and reconciled. This module creates opportunities to critically analyse the extent to which current policies and structures contribute to empower individuals and other stakeholders to exert meaningful control over their data and rights, in an automated and global environment.

This module examines the role of imagination and creativity in shaping the design and deployment of new transformative technologies — such as, but not exclusively, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning MR), augmented and virtual reality, distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), and the Internet of Things (IoT) — and considers their implications for law and governance. The module critically explores the potential for imaginative and creative approaches towards normativity in times of societal, environmental, and political transformation.

This module considers the relevant law and practice within the creative industry sectors such as literary publishing, music, advertising, sports, film and TV, sports, and the media. In particular, the module requires the comprehension of rights within the particular industry sectors in accordance with relevant intellectual property such as copyright, moral rights, passing off, trademark, performers’ rights, defamation and misuse of private information. Further consideration is given to the exploitation thereof by the ‘rights holder’ pursuant to commercial contracts entered into with third parties such as literary and music publishers, record companies, film production companies and commercial entities in general. The avoidance of liability under existing contracts by means of the law on contracting with minors, undue influence and restraint of trade is also considered.

This module analyses commercial Intellectual Property rights in an international context, with a particular focus on challenges to IP in the new online environment. Topics covered include Copyright and Fair Use, Trademarks and Domain Names, Passing off, Patents and Design Rights, and Confidentiality Rights - Trade Secrets, Privacy and Personality.

This module considers the protection provided to creative works by intellectual property law within the general framework of theoretical and economic justifications for IP rights. It examines the legal issues such as substantive protection, control, exploitation, creation and proliferation, and balance and enforcement. Areas include authors, owners, media, internet, directors and many others. The module aims to:

• provide students with the essential principles governing and the theoretical underpinnings of IP rights
• develop an analysis of various IP rights in various branches of the entertainment business
• consider both the European and international dimension
• consider legal and non-legal intervention and remedies.
   

This module will analyse aspects of the regulation of content and control of various elements of the media. It covers the contemporary regulatory framework that determines the permissible extent of cross-media ownership in light of technological advancement, and also examines forms of censorship of material within the media. It looks at both the law and the various statutory bodies who have a regulatory function in this area.

This module considers how law and technology has created and influenced law in relation to the digital entertainment business including the creation and distribution of products. It examines how technological advances have affected relationships and rights within the digital entertainment business, including the creation and regulation of online social media. It analyses ways law has responded to the digital environment and technological changes as well as examines extralegal attempts to deal with infringement of legal rights.