Your Rights Under the Internet Law By: Sannita S. Lam

COPYRIGHT Protects the “original works of ownership” Protects the “original works of ownership” Ensures that the company can compete in the marketplace Ensures that the company can compete in the marketplace Prevent unauthorized copying, sales, and distribution of its product Prevent unauthorized copying, sales, and distribution of its product

TRADEMARK to identify and distinguish the source of a good or service to identify and distinguish the source of a good or service protect words, symbols, slogans, designs, characters, packaging, sounds, smells, and colors, as well as product configurations, as used in commerce protect words, symbols, slogans, designs, characters, packaging, sounds, smells, and colors, as well as product configurations, as used in commerce protect against confusion in the market place resulting from conflicting use of similar words or symbols, among other things protect against confusion in the market place resulting from conflicting use of similar words or symbols, among other things

DEFAMATION an invasion of a person’s reputation and good name an invasion of a person’s reputation and good name complaint for defamation may be based on a false statement, spoken (slander) or written (libel), that exposes a person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or which cause a person to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure that person in his or her occupation complaint for defamation may be based on a false statement, spoken (slander) or written (libel), that exposes a person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or which cause a person to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure that person in his or her occupation

PRIVACY Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 Privacy Protection Act of 1980 Privacy Protection Act of 1980 Is the primary federal legal protection against unauthorized interception and disclosure of electronic communications, while in transit or in storage. Safeguards relating to materials held by “a person reasonably believed to have a purpose” to publish a newspaper, book, broadcast, or similar public communication

PRIVACY Privacy Act of 1974 Privacy Act of 1974 Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 No government agency may conceal the existence of a personal data record-keeping system Credits bureaus are required to implement and maintain procedures to avoid reporting obsolete or inaccurate information

PRIVACY Right to Financial Privacy Act Right to Financial Privacy Act Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 Financial institution may not proved the government “access to or copies of, or the information contained in, the financial records of any customer except in accordance with the provisions of “The Act.” This Law makes it unlawful to place a phone call using any automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice to any service for which the called party is charged for the call

CRIMINAL LIABILITY Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Wire Fraud Wire Fraud largely aimed at protecting federal government as well as financial and medical institution computers a scheme to defraud by means of false pretenses

CRIMINAL LIABILITY Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 Sexual Exploitation of Children Sexual Exploitation of Children prohibits unauthorized interception and disclosure of the content of the electronic communications Federal law prohibits employing, using, persuading, including, enticing, or coercing a minor to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct

ETHICS Many professions have established ethical rules and standards governing the conduct of their members. The advent of online technology has required those responsible for developing these rules and standards to educate themselves about the new tools and media and to determine how they fit into the existing scheme and whether some changes are necessary.