2012 Syllabus

CPSC 183: Law, Technology, & Culture
Brad Rosen (brad.rosen@yale.edu)
Fall 2012: M W, 4:00-5:15, WLH 119

CPSC 183 is a class that is open to non-majors.  You do not need a background in tech or computer science to enjoy the class.  The class offers some project options for CS majors as well.  Note: The name of the class has changed from previous years, the content has not.

As a general rule, we will adapt the syllabus to take into account current events.  We may need to add supplemental readings if breaking news changes the topics being discussed.   Please review the syllabi from previous years: 20092010, and 2011.  These should give you a flavor of what the class will ultimately look like.

Please note: the course topics and speakers are subject to change as the semester progresses and due to speaker availability.   After the start of the semester, we will post the provisional syllabus here, but you should pay attention to announcements in class and check back here in case there are changes.

1.) Should Gossip Be News? – 8/29[Note: Time will be set aside to discuss an overview of the course, as well as grading and what you can expect.  These readings are to stimulate a class discussion.]

2.)  The Past and Future of Cyberlaw – 8/31

3.) The Past and Future of Cyberspace – 9/5

  • Jonathan Zittrain, The Future of the Internet — and How to Stop It (Chapters 1, 2 – p. 11-35)
  • U.S. v. Morris (Concentrate mainly on the “Facts” section, don’t worry if you don’t understand some of the more complicated issues in the “Discussion” section)
  • Jack L. Goldsmith, Against Cyberanarchy, 65 U. Chi. L. Rev. 1199 (1998) [excerpt]

4.) What is law? (Dudley don’t hurt me…) – 9/10

5.) “15 Minutes of Fame”  – 9/12

6.) Introduction to Digital Copyright and Fair Use – 9/17

7.) Fair Use Part Deux and the DMCA – 9/19

8.) Fair Use and Remix Culture – 9/24

9.) P2P Law and Piracy – 9/26

10.) DRM and Anticircumvention – 10/1

11.) Free Software, Patents, Copyleft – 10/3

12.) Intro to Free Speech – 10/8

13.) Defamation and Hate Speech – 10/10

 

14.) Censorship I — Leaks and Creeps – 10/15

15.) Censorship II & Great Walls – 10/17

16.) Search & Seizure in the Digital Age – 10/22

17.) Wikipedia, Collaboration, and Network Effects – 10/29

18.) (Distributed via Email)

19.) Privacy: Who Can You Trust? – 11/5

20)  Privacy in a Web 2.0 World – 11/7

21)  Online Journalism and the “New” Content – 11/12

Legal Journalism

Journalism moves online

Twitter and the future of journalism

 

22)  Memes & Online Communities – 11/14

23) Anonymity & Online Identity

 

24) Net Neutrality

 

25) Innovation vs. Applianciziation

 

26) The Future of Education & Knowledge

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