LLM 372
Technology, Business & Law
3 Unit(s)
International business has traditionally been receptive to technological progress, but the advent of digital technologies has dramatically accelerated the speed of technological change. The aim of this course is to identify the legal challenges posed by digital innovation in international business, and to discuss, compare, and propose possible policy options and regulatory strategies to create an environment conducive to innovation, creativity, and social inclusiveness, without compromising protection of interests and rights. To this end, the course will introduce students to two generations of regional and international harmonization efforts to regulate the digital economy. The first generation of digital innovation produced rules on electronic commerce, electronic signatures, and other digital-business-related issues; these topics will be examined. Attention will then turn to the second generation of digital transformation affecting the economy and trade, namely the rise of an ecosystem of emerging and transformative technologies such as AI, IoT, DLT, big data, platforms, and virtual reality. Consideration will be given to many of the initiatives to define principles and rules for this second generation of digital transformation, such as rules for automated decision-making, liability rules for AI systems, rules for platforms, conceptualization and taxonomy of digital assets, conflict-of-law-rules for DLT models, and principles for Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platforms. As such, students will acquire familiarity with the main harmonization initiatives and projects, as well as policy debates about future directions.