Intellectual Property: Internet Law

Internet law, sometimes referred to as Cyberlaw, refers the law related to the use of the internet. Internet law can involve a mix of existing laws like copyright and trademark law as well as involve privacy, security and trespass issues. Internet law can also involve additional internet laws created to regulate various online activities and may include things like digital millennium copyright act (DMCA), domain name registration (ICANN), the computer fraud and abuse act (CFAA), computer tampering laws, consumer privacy laws (CCPA) and online advertising and marketing laws (CAN-SPAM).

In addition to these regulations, some internet activity can rise to the level of being a cybercrime. Cybercrimes are often activities which target or use a computer, a computer network or a computing device to injure a person, a business or the government. Some of these activities include both a criminal and a civil component.

For example, online activities like cyberstalking, cyberbullying, cyberextortion, cryptojacking, online harassment, ransomware, spoofing, phishing, cyberespionage and cyberterrorism may result in criminal or civil liability. In some cases, cybercrimes can include attacking a computer or computer network through the injection of a virus, worm or malicious software. Some of these actions are performed by an individual or an organization which aims to cause damage using various computing devices.

Warren Buffet described Cybercrime as the number one problem with mankind which poses a real risk to humanity. The economic impact of cybercrime has been projected to be a global issue which will result in 10.5 trillion dollars in damage and lost revenue by 2025.