Internet Law

"Internet law can be described as the field of law where the Internet plays a central role in the legal analysis. Existing law, sometimes after interpretation, is often used to solve Internet law issues. Many laws were written when the Internet did not exist or at least not in the way it does today. These laws were never meant for the Internet, where a single ‘click’ can have immense consequences and easily an almost infinite amount of people can be reached. There are also new norms that were specifically drafted for the Internet, such as those dealing with spam, cookies, electronic contracting, and cybercrime. The applicable legal framework is in a constant process of development." (From Internet Law: A Brief Introduction)

Internet law includes the fields of Internet governance, intellectual property, e-commerce, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, cybercrime and cybersecurity, and data protection and privacy.

The GW Law Library provides access to the Aspen Learning Library, which includes the Examples & Explanations series and CrunchTime study guides; and the LexisNexis Digital Library, which includes the Understanding and Q&A series. When prompted to login, use your GW Law email address and password.

Print study aids may be borrowed from the Reserve Collection at the Law Library's Circulation/Reserve Desk for up to 2 hours. Older editions may be found in the Law Library stacks. For more study aids in the Law Library's collection, please consult our Study Aids guide.

Search the Library's catalog (JACOB) to see if a book required for class is on Course Reserve in the Library. Course Reserve materials may be checked out for use in the Library from the Library's Circulation/Reserve Desk for up to two hours.

Selected terms and keywords for searching within library catalogs, databases, and websites for information related to Internet law include:

• Cyberlaw
• Cyberspace law
• Domain Name Dispute-Resolution
• E-Commerce
• Free speech on the Internet
• Intellectual Property on the Internet
• Internet law
• Internet-related Privacy
• Jurisdiction in Cyberspace
• Network Neutrality / Net Neutrality
• Section 230, Communications Decency Act

CALI lessons are interactive tutorials written by law professors at CALI member schools. They can be used for studying specific topics.

Ask a Reference Librarian for the GW Law CALI code.