Course Overview

It will maintain a specific focus on how new tech and constitutional rights interact. Many examples will come from the US context, but the focus will be global, not exclusively America. Relevant US Supreme Court cases related to media law, as well as international law treaties and leading scholars' articles, will play roles in enhancing students' opportunities for analysis. In terms of content, the course will be divided into four main sections: background on basic ideas of freedom of the press, drawing from the US context but with a broader scope. Second, in-depth media law issues including net neutrality, content regulation, copyright, etc. Third will be a detailed investigation, including practical, business-oriented examples, of intellectual property law and its impact and influence. Finally, the course will conclude by looking at the future: artificial intelligence, environmental threats and opportunities, humans' role in an increasingly technological world, etc. In this course, student work and assignments will not be limited to exclusively heavy reading of hundreds of pages of cases, translation of arcane and difficult passages, etc. The goal will be broad-based comprehension as well as cultivation of ability to think, discuss, and write critically about these important issues. The focus, of both readings as well as student writing, will be quality, not quantity. The teaching style of this course will: A) Be student-centered B) Comprehensive, and C) Ask why and how, not only what the law is. Students will need to speak and work in groups much more than potentially experienced in some other courses. And, as mentioned above in Evaluation, the semester grade will be determined by a midterm and final examination, as well as in-class participation and assignment work. Course content: Weeks 1-4: Freedoms of speech, assembly, and the press, focus on US constitutional law and broader related issues Weeks 5-8: Technical aspects of media law including content regulation, copyright, media law as a busin

Learning Achievement

Two main goals: 1) Give students a broad-based understanding of key constitutional, economic, and human rights issues related to media law and new technology. 2) Improve students' ability to analyze these topics in English.

Competence

Course prerequisites

Proficient English, law major and some comparative law experience preferred but not required

Grading Philosophy

Course schedule

Course type

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Charles Wharton

Other information

(College of Law) Graduate Institute of Law,
(College of Law) Department of Law
*Registration eligibility: juniors and above.

Site for Inquiry