Science and Technology Law
The digital age has transformed our lives. Rapidly changing technology is continuing to create new legal challenges. It’s also quickly made obsolete much of what lawyers learned about tech law in law school.
Technology law encompasses many areas of law. If you’re dealing with legal questions in our new high-tech world, contact an experienced technology law attorney. They can give you the best advice for your situation.
Science and Technology Legal Issues
Science and technology law encompasses a range of topics, such as the following:
- Bioscience
- Information technology, cybersecurity, and data privacy
- Telecommunications
- Human rights
- Emerging technologies
Technology law covers many legal practice areas. Examples include the following:
- Criminal law
- Antitrust
- International law
- Intellectual property
- Business law
- Health law
Most lawyers focus on only one or two of these areas. For example, an intellectual property attorney may concentrate only on patents or trademarks.
Innovations in science and technology often outpace the law, which presents unique legal, regulatory, and public policy challenges. The private sector is also at risk. Entrepreneurs must operate without knowing how the government will regulate new technologies. The rapid pace of change is also challenging the legal field, which must grapple with new legal technologies, like using artificial intelligence (AI) to draft legal documents.
Artificial Intelligence
AI is changing how we live and do business. Generative AI brings automation to many areas, like financial and legal services. Businesses that rely on AI can be severely damaged if it fails. If a company licenses AI from a vendor, questions of liability arise. AI may also use large amounts of customer data. Companies must know about disclosure and data retention laws when dealing with customer data.
The legal industry is also facing a challenge from AI. It can reduce the time it takes to draft legal documents. Attorneys, however, must take care to ensure the information from the AI is accurate.
Blockchain
Investment in blockchain technologies is continuing to grow. This technology has legal issues with government regulation, property rights, and privacy. Startups face uncertainty as regulators decide how to regulate this technology. Protecting IP with patents or trade secrets raises intellectual property law questions. Blockchains can also store consumer data. That opens the door to consumer privacy issues.
Digital Data
We’re storing more and more data in the cloud. Most of us have something in the cloud our families may want access to after we die. It could be important documents or photos and videos of loved ones. Cyberlaw and estate planning intersect when dealing with digital data after death. State laws and company policies vary regarding access to a deceased loved one’s digital data.
Most health care providers and insurance companies store your medical records in the cloud. Federal and state laws require these companies to protect your health data.
E-Commerce
E-commerce involves the sale of goods or services via the Internet. E-commerce laws affect both consumers and businesses. E-commerce legal issues include the following:
- State and federal taxation
- Domain name and trademark protection
- Electronic funds transfer
- Data protection and breaches
Social Media
Free speech is critical for many Americans. Social media has raised questions about online speech. Should the First Amendment protect it? If so, to what extent? One side of the argument focuses on personal responsibility — it’s up to you to filter out content you don’t want to see. On the other side is safety. We can’t control what social media algorithms may serve us. This issue is especially critical as more children use social media.
Social media has also given rise to cyberbullying and online harassment. States have laws that protect us from stalking and harassment in the physical world. Some states have extended those to the virtual world. Social media legal questions often hinge on what’s best for the public interest.
Contact a Tech Law Attorney for Help
New technology is exciting. But it also creates new challenges. A technology law attorney can help if you are trying to navigate legal issues in technology.