Module outline
Electronic Commerce is a vibrant and rapidly expanding subject, which is becoming increasingly prominent in the study of various disciplines. The potential impact of the phenomena known as 'E-Commerce' has been recognised by corporations, individuals, professional bodies, governments and international organisations, initially in the US but increasingly in the UK and Europe. Many established 'traditional' businesses have taken steps to capitalise on the electronic market. Equally we have seen the birth of companies and organisations specifically created to capitalise on the new markets potential; there have been varied results. Many high street stores have attempted to use web sites to promote their goods, but found their success was limited by the physical nature of their goods and geogrphical constraints. companies, created with the sole objective of tapping into the 'dream' eklectronomic market have also suffered from the fickle nature of business, where poorley planned ventures suffer an inevitable fate. The 'boom and doom' of the 'dot com' company is a great example. The fortunes of Amazon.com and boo.com, for instance, demonstrate the potential that exists for unparalleled success and unparalleled failure.

Governments and 'supra national' bodies recognise this economic potential and wish to capitalise on it for the benefit of their own economies. However, governments are equally keen to maintain a level of control over the commercial activity conducted within their borders. It is here, that electronic commerce raises some difficult and sometimes controversial legal issues.

Aims
This course aims to introduce and develop an understanding of the key legal issues raised by electronic commerce in relation to business and management. In particular, the legal implications of conducting business in the electronic environment will be considered with the focus on legislative developments in the UK and EC. The specific issues covered will include marketing in the electronic environment, the forming of electronic contracts, consumer protection, jurisdiction, data protection and intellectural property.