Web 2.0: Nothing Changes…but Everything is Different

For some, Web 2.0 is a "simple" evolution of the current web; for others, Web 2.0 is a real revolution. Web 2.0 is, in fact, a "revolutionary evolution." Technically speaking, Web 2.0 is a "simple" evolution because it is not a technical "breakthrough," as it is essentially based on an aggregation of existing technologies. However, the impact of Web 2.0 is such that it can actually be described as an evolution that will shake our sociological, economic and legal bases. This paper addresses the legal aspects of Web 2.0 and tries to explain that while Web 2.0 is not a lawless domain, it is highly likely to create a legal tsunami.Web 2.0; regulation; law; case law; blogs; liability; intellectual property; personal data; knowledge management; collaborative space and employment law

Streaming Unauthorised Copyrighted Content: Copyright Liability of Streaming Platforms and Streaming Box Distributors. A Comparative EU-US-SA Perspective

This thesis examines the liability for copyright infringement of streaming platforms and streaming box distributors in the EU, U.S. and in South Africa. As there have been no reported cases in South Africa in which copyright holders have instituted legal proceedings concerning copyright infringement against streaming platforms or streaming box distributors, this thesis analyses and compares the legal context in the EU and the U.S., in order to develop an appropriate approach for lawmakers and courts in South Africa regarding this issue. It concludes that the approach of the European Court of Justice with regard to the communication to the public right leads to legal uncertainty and should not be followed. Instead, it is suggested that South Africa implements into its Copyright Act of 1978 parts of the U.S. approach in terms of secondary liability. Furthermore, the lawmaker should revise the safe harbour provisions in the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act of 2002

Crime risks of three-dimensional virtual environments

Three-dimensional virtual environments (3dves) are the new generation of digital multi-user social networking platforms. Their immersive character allows users to create a digital humanised representation or avatar, enabling a degree of virtual interaction not possible through conventional text-based internet technologies. As recent international experience demonstrates, in addition to the conventional range of cybercrimes (including economic fraud, the dissemination of child pornography and copyright violations), the \u27virtual-reality\u27 promoted by 3dves is the source of great speculation and concern over a range of specific and emerging forms of crime and harm to users. This paper provides some examples of the types of harm currently emerging in 3dves and suggests internal regulation by user groups, terms of service, or end-user licensing agreements, possibly linked to real-world criminological principles. This paper also provides some directions for future research aimed at understanding the role of Australian criminal law and the justice system more broadly in this emerging field

The Internet is Not a Lawless Prairie: Data Protection and Privacy in Italy

As the Internet has become more pervasive, so too have concerns about the security of personal data online. The rapid evolution of Internet technology has outpaced the legislative process, leaving courts to resolve complex and important questions of policy. Their answers to these questions can have dramatic implications for the future of the Internet as a platform for global communication. The judicial decisions in this area are frequently issued ad hoc by judges who may be unfamiliar with the technology at issue and unaware of the potential ramifications of their rulings. The February 2010 conviction in Italy of three Google executives for violations of data protection laws sparked widespread controversy and criticism on this basis. This Comment argues that the Italian court’s decision is a prominent example of the broader trend of inexpert judicial regulation of the Internet