It is not a shocker that technology law is becoming just as popular as criminal law or civil law. I mean with the world running on technology and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) rumoured to be knocking on our doorstep, it is not surprising that technology law is gaining momentum and is becoming popular. With so much of the world sharing information on the World Wide Web, something as simple as a picture, a text, downloading a book and distributing it without the authors’ consent or even downloading and sharing music can sometimes be a thin line between a joke, something innocent or a law suit. Why? You may ask.

This article aims to dissect and inform on the intersection and correlation of technology and law in this fast-paced world. It is definitely beneficial to have a succinct understanding on this emerging field of the law. It might help you decide to actually venture in this field and perhaps pursue studies or a career in this field. Like I said earlier with the 4IR upon us, anything technology would definitely be beneficial to anybody in the long run.

When someone mentions technology to you, immediately you might think science, equipment, machinery or even a branch of knowledge dealing with engineering or applied sciences. On the other hand, Law is a system of rules that govern a country. Put these two words together, in this sense, and it becomes a bit of confusion. How does equipment have laws? Should that part not be governed general human law and how they interact with technology as we know it?

However, Technology law or “Tech Law”, in the context of this writeup is an aspect of law that deals with the internet and information shared in the cyberspace. With the world moving into the 4IR, it makes sense that users’ information is protected and secured. With most of the world running on the internet, personal information may end up in the wrong hands and that exposes users to identity fraud and cyber attacks. Technology law is mostly and primarily concerned with the collection, storage, dissemination, and uses of information in the digital space.

Tech law also focuses on intellectual property rights, a legal system that deals with disputes over who ‘owns’ intangible ‘property’, such as creative works, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets including software licensing as well. In South Africa, the President recently signed the Cybercrime Bill into law (which will only come into effect when published in the gazette on a date chosen by the President); clearly, technology law is definitely a field that interjects even on social media platforms.

Furthermore, social media is an integral part of our daily living and as much as you may try, it is not always easy to stay away from it. Being a user of social media, one requires a thick skin as a result of cyber bulling which has affected or… Click here to continue reading

The PALM #5 Edition