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EDI XX09 Digital Business Law

EDI XX09 Digital Business Law

Course code: 
EDI XX09
Department: 
Law and Governance
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Milos Novovic
Course name in Norwegian: 
Digital Business Law
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor of Digital Business - Programme course
Semester: 
2025 Spring
Active status: 
Planned
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Complete course description will be ready summer 2024.

This course introduces students to a broad set of legal rules governing the daily operations of a digital business.

Given that this is likely the first legal course for our students, prior to discussing any particular legal field, the course will provide students with a basic understanding of legal methodology and legal sources. The students will learn to identify and apply relevant legal sources to resolve practical issues their business may be facing.

One of the areas of law which saw a change due to widespread adoption of technology is contract law. The course will explore the core requirements for entering into digital contracts, as well as different ways in which advancements in technology can be used to facilitate contract negotiation, adoption, interpretation and enforcement. The course will also introduce students to core European instruments regulating sales of digital goods and services, preparing them to work with the sale of digital assets. This will also be supplanted by the overview of the rules on fair marketing of products, which remain highly relevant in the digital world.

With the growth of online businesses and platforms, questions of consumer protection are becoming more pressing by the day. The course will strive to give students a good overview of European regulation in the area.

One of the core modules of the course will explore the relevance and application of intellectual property rights in the digital world. By introducing students to international and EU regulation of intellectual property, the course will enable students to gain the understanding of the importance of this field for the market actors. The primary focus will be on copyright law, where students will be introduced to core rights that copyright holders have. Following this, students will be introduced to the specific ways in which copyright law regulates protection of computer programs and databases. This will allow students to provide legal advice to a wide range of companies working with digital assets. Lastly, in the field of intellectual property, the course will strive to give students an overview of basic rules of trademark law.

Protection of personal data – and privacy in general – remains a core topic when designing digital products and services. Students will be introduced to core regulations pertaining to this field, with a large focus on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Lastly, the course will introduce students to topics pertaining to regulation of online platforms. It will introduce students to some of the core rules on net neutrality and cross-border portability of digital content. It will also explore the system of intermediary liability, outlining the cases in which digital platforms can be held liable for user’s illegal conduct.

The course will have a heavy emphasis on challenges posed by new technologies, such as machine learning and AI. Practical implications will be considered by students, in the light of existing and proposed regulations. The course will have a heavy emphasis on case studies and other forms of practical work. 

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

After attending the course, the student will have acquired knowledge of:

  • Basics of legal methodology
  • Basics of contract law and use of technology for negotiating, entering into and checking compliance with contracts
  • Rules on sales of digital goods and services
  • Basics of consumer protection and fair marketing online
  • Subject matter of copyright and related rights, as well as system of international treaties for protecting copyright
  • Protection of computer databases and computer programs
  • Core issues in privacy and data protection, with focus on lawfulness of processing of personal data under GDPR
  • Basics of intermediary liability regulation
  • Legal challenges posed by emerging and new technologies, such as machine learning and AI
Learning outcomes - Skills

After attending the courses, the student will have learned how to:

  • recognize core issues stemming from use of digital services;
  • identify core problems related to offering goods and services online;
  • provide advice on digital contracting;
  • recognize subject matter subject to copyright protection, and understand the general scope of exclusive rights conferred on owners;
  • provide advice on lawful use of computer databases and computer programs;
  • give advice on legal basis for processing of personal data under GDPR;
  • apply legal methodology to recognize problems stemming from use of new technologies.
General Competence

After attending the courses, the student will have the following general competence:

  • understand the central regulatory instruments in the digital world;
  • be able to use legal methodology to recognize problems emerging from use of the existing and new technological solution;
  • be able to critically reflect on ethical and legal dilemmas stemming from use of advanced digital tools, such as machine learning and AI.
Course content

The course will content the following topics:

  • Introduction to legal methodology. Legal writing.
  • Basics of contract law. Sale of digital goods and services.
  • Consumer protection and fair marketing of products online.
  • Copyright. Subject matter and scope of protection. Exclusive rights. Scope of international treaties.
  • Protection of computer programs. Database protection.
  • Introduction to privacy. GDPR. Personal data. Core terms.
  • Legal basis for processing of personal data under GDPR.
  • Digital platforms. Liability rules and intermediary liability. Net neutrality and cross-border content portability.
  • Law and new technologies.
Teaching and learning activities

Teaching and learning activities

A variety of learning methods will be used, from regular lectures to webinars, and discussions of cases and questions on digital platform in class.

There will one written assignment which the students must hand in order to be allowed to take the final exam. We will then go through the task in class.

Software tools

Software tools
Software defined under the section "Teaching and learning activities".
Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:

Grading scale:
ECTS
Grading rules:
-
Resit:
-
80No -Group
Exam category:
Activity
Form of assessment:
Class participation
Exam code:

Grading scale:
ECTS
Grading rules:
-
Resit:
-
20No -Individual
Exams:
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:80
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group
Duration: -
Comment:
Exam code:
Grading scale:ECTS
Resit:-
Exam category:Activity
Form of assessment:Class participation
Weight:20
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Individual
Duration: -
Comment:
Exam code:
Grading scale:ECTS
Resit:-
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
Examination
Examination
Prepare for teaching
Student's own work with learning resources
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.