The Ultimate Guide to Internet Law: 100 Guides and Resources for Future Lawyers

As we grow more and more dependent on the Internet and share more private information online, Internet law is a hot field for up-and-coming lawyers. The cases that are fought in the next several years will be setting precedents and laying the groundwork for the future of Internet law. Whether you are a lawyer, law student, an online business owner, or blogger, Internet law is affecting your life and will continue to do so. The following resources can provide help and information to answer any questions you may have about Internet law. Just try to keep up with the changes!

General Internet Law Resources

From summaries of court decisions to podcasts and articles, the resources below will provide plenty of opportunities to find what you might need to know about Internet law. They are also good resources for those enrolled in law related programs, such as the best online criminal justice programs or the best online paralegal programs.

1. SpamLaws. Keep abreast of the latest spam laws as well as laws on other related topics such as spyware, adware, viruses, and more.
2. Communications Decency Act. The rejection of this act is great background for anyone looking for a history of Internet law. Get all the news coverage, background, briefs, and proceedings that pertain to the Communications Decency Act in 1997.
3. EDUCAUSE Connect. This site offers a database of various resources in information technology, education, and the law.
4. BitLaw. This resource offers almost 2,000 pages of information on patent, copyright, trademark, and Internet legal issues.
5. Law.com Law Technology News. Read news articles and blogs and get links to downloads and white papers, podcasts, newsletters, and more at this site.
6. UCLA Online Institute for Cyberspace Law and Policy. This archive provides a rich resource for all formative laws taking place between 1995 through 2002.
7. LLRX.com. Self-described as “law and technology resources for legal professionals,” this site has plenty to offer for the latest news and more in this field.
8. HG Global Resources. Read up on information technology law in the U.S., relevant organizations, and publications with this resource.
9. University of Arizona Cyberlaw Research Resources Guide. Find resources through this law school’s library, including information on specific acts and all-around great journals.
10. Internet Legal Research Group – Public Legal. This index has more than 4,000 websites from around the world and downloadable files on all kinds of law, including Internet law.
11. Internet Society – Guide to Internet Law. Find dozens of links on the legal issues surrounding the Internet.
12. Computer Weekly Internet Law – Essential Guide. Computer Weekly offers a general guide for the layman and what Internet laws he or she needs to know.
13. BU School of Law Pappas Law Library, Computer Law, Cyberlaw, and E-Commerce. Some of these resources are restricted to Boston University School of Law students, but there are plenty of free resources or those that law students in general might have access to.

Public Interest Groups and Resources

From studying the Internet trends to following the federal laws as they are created, the resources in this list will provide plenty of resources on the public interest side of Internet law.

14. Berkman Center for Internet & Society. A part of Harvard Law, this group studies the Internet and determines what laws are necessary, if any, in order to “help pioneer its development.”
15. Openlaw. Based on the concept of open source software, this site offers all interested parties (lawyers and non-lawyers) to participate in an open forum to craft legal arguments. Much of the focus here tends to touch on Internet law.
16. Electronic Frontier Foundation. This powerhouse site offers all the latest in protecting civil liberties online.
17. Public Knowledge. This public interest group works to keep civil liberties on the Internet. Some of their current projects include copyrights, 3D printing, and a petition to protect the First Amendment rights with text messages.
18. Public.Resource.org. The mission of this site is to make government more accessible to the public via the Internet. You’ll find information on open cases as well as plenty of government documents.
19. GovTrack.us. Follow all the latest federal legislation with this group. They also have a blog and a place to find information about your representatives.
20. CorpWatch. This group watches over major corporations and reports the information here. They have a technology section that is helpful for Internet law research.
21. NCSL State Cyberstalking and Cyberharassment Laws. This page from the National Conference of State Legislatures shows the state-by-state laws on cyberstalking and cyberharassment, useful for both the public and future lawyers.
22. NCSL Cyberbullying. Again from the National Conference of State Legislatures, this page gives essential information on cyberbullying and also points to other resources on the subject.
23. Cyberbullying Research Center. For everything you want to know about cyberbullying, from the causes, effects, and extent of the problem, turn to this research center.

Intellectual Property Law Resources

Looking specifically at intellectual property, these resources offer information on the law as it pertains to copyrights, trademarks, cyber crime, and more.

24. The IP Mall–Pierce Law Center. This site offers links to several intellectual property resources from both Pierce Law and from around the world.
25. Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section. From the U.S. Department of Justice, find press releases and documents about cyber and IP crime.
26. ARL Public & Intellectual Property Policies. Read about all the debate and consideration of public policies, specifically as they pertain to the Internet, in this resource compiled by the Association of Research Libraries.
27. Copyright Website. From the most basic information for the average Joe to more detailed information for professionals, this site offers the lowdown on copyright laws for movies, music, and the Internet.
28. Chilling Effects Clearinghouse. This project, hosted by several law schools, compiles “legal complaints about online activity” and uses this information to help ensure the public’s First Amendment and intellectual property rights are protected on the Internet.
29. Creative Commons. This non-profit will help you learn about copyright laws and creating a “some rights reserved” copyright.
30. IPWatchdog.com. Find out from this patent attorney what you need to know about patents, copyrights, trademarks, and anything else pertaining to intellectual property law.
31. U.S. Copyright Office. Find out the basics about copyrights to the copyright laws and more on this official government site.
32. Intellectual Property Law Server. Get plenty of information about IP law from the blogs, articles, and forums on this resource.
33. Duke Law Intellectual Property Guide. Duke Law School hosts this general guide to intellectual property law, complete with links to other great resources. Why not print a copy out to refer back to?
34. American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law. The American Bar Assocation has a whole section devoted to intellectual property, including recent developments, proposals, podcasts, and more.
35. AIPLA Professional Resources. The American Intellectual Property Law Association helps serve the legal community with annual reports, best practices, and many other services that its members can tap into.

International Internet Law Resources

With the Internet going beyond the borders of any one country, it is important to include an international perspective when dealing with Internet law. These resources provide that perspective.

36. ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Intellectual Property Law. This guide offers everything from a clear definition of intellectual property to important research strategies and resources to assist with international intellectual property law.
37. World-Wide Intellectual Property Law. Find links to publications, patent links, organizations, and more that all have to do with various subcategories of intellectual properties.
38. ITechLaw. This organization is for legal professionals and students in the Internet law field and offers international networking and information sharing.
39. LawGuru.com Treaties and International Law. Find a long list of links to treaties and other documents pertaining to international business dealings.
40. World Intellectual Property Organization. An agency of the United Nations, this group strives to provide a safe and accessible global intellectual property community.
41. Ius mentis. This Dutch site provides more than 350 articles pertaining to technology and the law, with a very heavy emphasis on intellectual property.
42. Academicinfo Intellectual Property Law. This incredibly comprehensive list offers links to resources around the world for IP laws and information.
43. Georgetown International Cyberspace Law Research Guide. Find both U.S. and international law resources regarding cybercrime, e-commerce, privacy, and more.
44. Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre. The University of New South Wales hosts this “centre,” which provides information on the cyberlaws in Australia and beyond.
45. Europa – Intellectual Property. The official site of the European Union, Europa gives summaried of EU legislation, including that on intellectual property.
46. WTO TRIPS material. The World Trade Organization TRIPS organization looks at the “trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights” (hence the acronym). Keep up to date with TRIPS news or just learn what the WTO’s agreement on IP is.
47. Society for Computers and Law. This U.K. organization focuses on professionals in the information technology law sector. While some of the laws apply only in the U.K., many of the issues tackled are the same everywhere.

e-Commerce Law and Fraud Resources

The following groups and resources focus on e-commerce and fraud protection. From a database of national e-commerce offenders to ways to protect against Internet scams, you will find what you need to know here.

48. econsumer.gov. An international watchdog, this site offers assistance with legal matters for e-commerce situations as well as maintains a database of international offenders.
49. National Consumer League’s Fraud Center. Get news, tips and trends on Internet fraud with this organization’s information.
50. APWG. This public service group is dedicated to eliminating Internet scams and fraud.
51. The Spamhaus Project. A global watchdog, this group monitors spammers and provides information to the public as well as international law enforcement agencies.
52. SBA Online Business Law. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides industry laws and regulations for online businesses, touching on subjects like advertising, digital copyright, and privacy.
53. United States Patent and Trademark Office. Learn about the role of patents and trademarks in e-commerce from the USPTO.
54. Cornell Legal Information Institute, Computer and Internet Fraud. Cornell University Law School provides a comprehensive overview of the laws on computer and Internet fraud and can point you to some other resources on the subject.

Journals

Mostly from academic institutions, these journals provide a wealth of information ranging from compilations of news reports to original articles written by practicing lawyers, scholars, and law students.

55. Berkeley Technology Law Journal. Run by the students, this journal keeps those in the legal profession updated with all the latest news in high-tech, intellectual property, and biotech fields.
56. Duke Law & Technology Review. Get the latest news stories pertaining to such topics as e-commerce, cybercrime, patents and technology, and copyrights and trademarks.
57. Richmond Journal of Law & Technology. Find articles, editorial pieces, and eDiscovery archives on the “first exclusively online law review.”
58. Stanford Technology Law Review. This “interactive forum” provides articles from students, professionals, and scholars with hyperlinks, viewable footnotes, and immediate reader response.
59. Yale Journal of Law and Technology. The articles in this interactive journal are written by distinguished guests of Yale, students, scholars, and practitioners with a focus on the intersection of law and technology.
60. Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review. This interactive law review aims to “promote informed discourse about the interrelated legal, social, business, and public policy issues raised by emerging technologies.”
61. Harvard Journal of Law & Technology. Written by practitioners, students, and scholars, these articles discuss current trends in several aspects of technology and the law such as intellectual property, cybercrime, e-commerce, telecommunications, and more.
62. Fordham Intellectual Property, Media, and Entertainment Law Journal. They offer information on patent, copyright, trademark, and telecommunications and Internet law.
63. Santa Clara Computer and High Technology Law Journal. This student-run journal has received both national and international recognition and focuses on technology, law, and public policy.

Blogs

Law blogs provide a super combination of the blogger’s vast amount of specialized knowledge and their personality traits to provide an informative and entertaining way to keep abreast of what is happening in the world of Internet law.

64. Lessig. Stanford Law School’s professor Lawrence Lessig pens this blog with topics focusing on the current political state of technology and copyright issues as they pertain to the law.
65. Bag and Baggage. Written by Denise Howell, this blog frequently focuses on law topics such as intellectual property and technology.
66. beSpacific. This blog, by Sabrina Pacifici, offers the latest on law and technology issues.
67. Dennis Kennedy . This lawyer is considered one of the most important in the study of technology and law.
68. Digestible Law. Read this blog that incorporates Internet law with an Internet case digest to get the latest news in the field.
69. Info/Law. Read about the latest in Information Law such as public domain, ISP privacy issues, and companies enabling censorship.
70. Privacy and Security Law Blog. This blog is maintained by a group of lawyers who practice and write about privacy and security, frequently including those aspects as pertain to the Internet.
71. Lexero Law Firm Blog. This blog from Internet and technology law firm, Lexero, covers all the latest news in the cyberlaw world.
72. Stanford Law School CIS blog. Stanford Law has several great resources for learning about Internet law, and their Center for Internet and Society blog is no exception. Read up on the latest updates from the great minds at Stanford Law.
73. The IT Lawyer. This blog focuses on information technology law, written by a professor of law at the London School of Economics. The author Andrew Murray has literally written the book (actually, books) on the subject.

Newsletters

Newsletter are a great way to stay on top of the news. They are usually delivered directly to your email address and you can choose one that will update you as frequently as you would like.

74. BNA Internet Law News. Get daily email updates with links to all the latest news about Internet law.
75. GigaLaw.com. Focusing on Internet and technology law, get daily updates on the latest news.
76. Internet Law Update Newsletter. Get regular email updates on Internet law from one of the foremost authorities in the field.
77. Berkman Center Mailing Signup. Choose to get monthly delivery of The Filter, a weekly dose of the Berkman Buzz, or media or report releases from this important Harvard Internet research group.
78. Law Journal Newsletters. This site offers newsletters for several fields within law. Click on “Technology” under Practice Groups to read the latest news or subscribe.
79. Internet Law & Business. A sister to the larger Computer Law Reporter, a nationally recognized publication, this newsletter provides the latest analyses in Internet law. There is a large subscription fee for this publication.
80. Cyber Report. This newsletter from the Internet Law Center provides the latest legal news for Internet businesses.
81. JurisNotes.com. Get intellectual property and patent law newsletters through this service. The first two months are free.

Complying with Internet Law

It can be easy to step outside the law because of the nuances of Internet law. Making sure you stay within the law will be easier with these resources.

82. Legally Blog: Know Your Rights and Protect Your Content. Learn important legal terms that should matter to every blogger.
83. EFF: Legal Guide for Bloggers. Find out what your rights are and learn what to avoid to protect yourself whether you are a beginner blogger or you’ve been posting for a while.
84. The Children’s Internet Protection Act. This resource tells the history of CIPA and explains how librarians implement CIPA and stay within the law.
85. Staying out of Legal Trouble: Ten Commandments for Webmasters and Operators. Learn ten things to do in order to keep yourself and your business out of trouble.
86. The CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business. This publication from the Federal Trade Commission explains how you can safely perform bulk email to your customers without breaking the law.
87. Email Privacy and CAN SPAM Laws to Be Aware Of. Read this post to learn what types of emails you can send and which can get you in a lot of trouble.
88. A Legal Issues Primer for Open Source and Free Software Projects. If you are producing any type of open source or freeware, this is a must-read for you.
89. Citizen Media Law Project Guides and Resources. This site is specifically for helping independent journalists, like bloggers and online investigative reporters, stay out of trouble with the law. Read up on their sections on best practices for news aggregators, tweeting from court, and more.
90. Student Press Law Center – Student Media Guide to Internet Law. This site is perfect for anyone posting content on the Internet, but particularly for student members of the media. Many confusing media law questions are answered clearly here.
91. George Mason University’s Copyright and the Internet Guide. A useful guide for anyone posting on the Internet, with rules for what you should and shouldn’t post.

General Law Resources

While these resources offer a more general scope on the area of law, many of them do provide sections that deal specifically with Internet law.

92. Law Library of Congress. From the largest law library in the world, find tons of resources and information on this site.
93. American Bar Association. Find lawyers, get information and resources, and link to other sites that offer help with legal research.
94. FindLaw. Search for a lawyer and see lawyer profiles, get information on the law, and find answers to many common questions.
95. American Civil Liberties Union. Find information as it pertains to individual’s rights protected by the constitution. You will find a Privacy & Technology section dealing specifically with new technologies and civil liberties.
96. Emory Law Ready Reference. This site offers links to free primary and secondary research sources. Find an Internet Legal Research Guide among many other guides.
97. PLoL. The Public Library of Law touts itself as the largest free law library and is a great place to look for what you need in Internet law and more.
98. Media Law Resource Center. While the focus is on media law, there is a huge overlap with Internet law here.
99. The ‘Lectric Law Library. This site has a casual feel, but has received recognition and provides lots of information on the law.
100. THOMAS. Dedicated to Thomas Jefferson’s devotion to the legal system, this site from the Library of Congress offers the most current legislative updates.