Computer Law, 4 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering
• Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management
• Master of Science in Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management - International
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
• Bachelor's Programme in Programming

Intended learning outcomes

After completing the course, students will:

• have a general knowledge and understanding of the Swedish national law structure and systematics
• have a general knowledge and understanding of the jurisprudential structure and content relevant for the IT-area.
• have basic knowledge and understanding with regard to key legal concepts in civil and public law, primarily for data law, and the legal regulation on the use of information technology
• demonstrate basic skills in interpretation of the law and the legal case analysis
• demonstrate basic ability to identify and solve complex but less frequent civil and public law issues in computer law
• ability to critically reflect on the legal positions regarding the application of the relevant rules in the areas of the course.

  Course content

  1. Law and The Legal System: The nature and grouping/classification of the legal system. The Court System, Arbitration, the making and publication of laws.
  2. Property Law: The drawing up and evaluation of contracts and the required specifications when buying and selling computers, software and consultancy services. An examination of the market's standard contracts regarding ADB services.
  3. Responsibility, damages, insurance matters and other risk management involved in computer use.
  4. Computer Crime: What is computer crime what laws are there and how to investigating and sentencing authorities work? Evidence and assessment of disloyal use.
  5. Licensing by the Swedish data inspection board according to the data protection act. Application of the principle of public access to official records to ADB material.
  6. Copyright protection with regard to software, consultancy services and employees software production. Protection of company secrets.
  7. Association Law: Different types of company. Private companies. Trading companies: Establishment, organisation, owner's responsibility. Economic associations. Joint-stock companies: etablishment, changes in and payment of share capital, protection of share capital, organisation, the company's rights and obligations, annual accounts dissolution/winding up of the company.
  8. Labour Law: various in the labour market, negotiation and union right, right of participation in decisions making, collective contract/collective wage agreement, industrial action, mediating, the individual employment contract, job security agreements and holiday rights.

Teaching and working methods

Lectures based on course literature.

Examination

Grades

Other information

About teaching and examination language

The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows: 

• If teaching language is “Swedish”, the course as a whole could be given in Swedish, or partly in English. Examination language is Swedish, but parts of the examination can be in English.
• If teaching language is “English”, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
• If teaching language is “Swedish/English”, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English depending on teaching language.

Other

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

The planning and implementation of a course should correspond to the course syllabus. The course evaluation should therefore be conducted with the course syllabus as a starting point. 

The course is campus-based at the location specified for the course, unless otherwise stated under “Teaching and working methods”. Please note, in a campus-based course occasional remote sessions could be included.  

Department

Course literature