The Law of Internet and Mobile Communications: The US and EU Contrasted

Citation

Sturges, P. (2005), "The Law of Internet and Mobile Communications: The US and EU Contrasted", Online Information Review, Vol. 29 No. 4, pp. 429-429. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520510617929

Since the information professional, the solo worker in particular, has to handle the problems that come with information in an increasing range of formats, a good knowledge of relevant law is essential. However, obtaining a good knowledge should not mean poring over dry legal texts. Short, clear expositions of the law, written with the information professional in mind, are much more appropriate, and this volume is precisely that. It deals with internet and mobile communications law in clear language set out in easily‐readable print, at a manageable length.

The core of the book is concerned with commerce‐related issues. This begins with contracts as such and, more specifically, internet contracts. Internet sales and e‐commerce, particularly the EU Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002, are covered next. The Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 and the issue of electronic signatures follow. All of this is explained well, and due attention is paid to US law. This does, in effect, allow the reader to contrast EU and US law, but the book's sub‐title is misleading because a fully‐fledged contrast is not attempted. This is probably a good thing, as it might have pushed the text into realms of academic legal debate that would not have been of much benefit to the non‐lawyer.

The discussion of commerce‐related law is sandwiched between a chapter on privacy and the internet, and another on defamation. Both of these perform useful functions, but the sequence of chapters is a little confusing because the book ends with ISP agreements and payment over the Internet and mobile systems.

Despite this sense that the content is not quite what the title claims, and that it is not organised in a totally obvious way, the book is easy to use. There are plenty of headings, sections organised in question‐and‐answer form, and essential detail from the relevant legal enactments. It can be recommended to information professionals without hesitation.