IT AND ELECTRONIC BUSINESS LAW A NATIONL AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

This analysis is based on work originally done in 1999. However, the development in IT and electronic business law since then, both in the jurisdiction of England and Wales and internationally, have resulted in the need for substantial revisions over the years. Since the first version, internet based business activity has increased at great speed, giving rise to the need for regular updates. The changes have been driven by three associated factors. The first in the growth and availability of internet based communication because of the development relevant from legal perspective, is the degree to which there has been a growing recognition of the need for national and pannational legislation and / or other regulation to facilitate (though also to regulate) the internet environment . the third factor has been, sadly , the changes in policy caused by the attacks on the U.S.A in September 2001 and the consequential impetus given to internet and electronic commerce regulation.