Executives Need To Open Their Eyes To Legal Aspects Of The Internet

Executives Need To Open Their Eyes To Legal Aspects Of The Internet

The emergence of the Internet has ushered in a host of legal issues that have revolutionized how executives must do business with regard to intellectual property, privacy and governance.

"All businesses use the Internet in some form, which means that they have a responsibility to understand the regulations that affect their employees, partners, and customers. The cost of ignorance is high," notes John W. Bagby, professor of business law in Penn State's Smeal College of Business.

Bagby is serving as editor of The American Business Law Journal's upcoming special "Cyberlaw" issue and will be among the presenters at an upcoming seminar devoted to legal aspects of the Internet. The seminar, "Cyberlaw and Information Policy-How They Impact Your Business," is co-sponsored by Penn State Executive Programs in Smeal College and the University's eBusiness Research Center (eBRC). The seminar takes place May 14-15, 2001, in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

"There's no doubt that executives need to be aware of the legal aspects of the Internet," says Bagby.

Several key issues that Bagby believes executives should learn include: what questions to ask and when to seek legal counsel; recognizing which emerging policy issues pose strategic business concerns; and developing corporate responses that address consumer concerns.

"A decade ago, most executives weren't concerned about establishing and maintaining corporate e-policies. That's certainly no longer the case. Managers today must know how to establish e-policies as well as know how to develop 'appropriate use' policies," says Bagby, professor of business law in the Department of Management and Organization in Penn State's Smeal College of Business Administration. His areas of expertise include cyberlaw, liability risk management, securities regulations, regulatory process and policy, and business organizations.

Bagby's co-instructor for the seminar is Richard D. Taylor, Palmer Chair Professor of Law and Telecommunications Studies and Law at Penn State. He is also Co-Director of the Institute for Information Policy at Penn State and an eBRC Research Fellow. Prior to joining the faculty at Penn State, Taylor was vice president and corporate counsel for Warner Cable Communications. He specializes in the impact of new information technologies across traditional industry and geographic boundaries.

eBRC-a joint effort of the School of Information Sciences and Technology and the Smeal College of Business Administration--promotes research by academics and practitioners on various aspects of e-business, with emphasis on governance and execution issues. The primary mission of eBRC is to foster, expand, and disseminate theoretical, empirical and applied research in e-business and to bring research insights to its supporting members and help them with e-business practice.

The Cyberlaw and Information Policy Seminar will be held at the Desmond Great Valley Hotel and Conference Center on Liberty Blvd in Malvern. For more information on the seminar, call 1-800-311-6364.