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The Law And Emerging Technology

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Physical borders and boundaries do not define cyberspace, which makes it a complete contradiction to the apparent lines separating States, and the jurisdiction of the courts. The internet is an array of network capabilities that allow computers around the globe to share and distribute electronic data. The internet also continues to be the driving force for new forms of communication and contact between people who remain separated by state and even national boundaries. As the Internet becomes more interactive, the complexity of an individual’s legal rights becomes critical by examining the interaction of the law and emerging technology. Personal jurisdiction by definition is based solely on the geographical location of a particular court, …show more content…

The computer software generated by subscribers, often referred to as “shareware,” produces funds only if other subscribers decide to pay for the licensing of the software. Subscribers often have the option to a free trial of any software, and an option to pay later for the full version, after the trial date has expired. When a subscriber decides that the software is useful and wants to purchase the full license, the fees go directly to CompuServe in Ohio, and the company takes a 15% cut of any license software purchased prior to remitting the balance to the shareware developer.
The defendant, Richard Patterson, is an attorney and resident of Houston, Texas. Patterson, who also conducts business as a FlashPoint developer, subscribed to CompuServe, and developed shareware products on the CompuServe system for others to purchase. When Patterson became a shareware developer and provider, he entered into a “Shareware Registration Agreement” (SRA) with CompuServe. The agreement authorized Patterson to place shareware that he developed on the CompuServe network located in Ohio, furthermore distributing his software globally to users wishing to download and use. The SRA is a standard contract, which bonds any developer of shareware on the CompuServe network by referencing two standards: (1) a Service Agreement and (2) the Rules of Operation, which CompuServe provided during the subscription process. According to CompuServe, at

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