Legal Regulation and the Global Digital Divide

Prof Abdul Paliwala, University of Warwick

Tuesday 16 November 2004

1:00 to 2:00 pm, including time for questions
(with a light lunch served at 12.30pm)

Staff Common Room, Faculty of Law, Level 11, Library Tower
UNSW Kensington campus, Sydney
Map: http://www.unsw.edu.au/maps/kensington.pdf

Abstract:

This informal seminar examines the role of legal regulation, including trade policy, in the uneven global diffusion of information technology.

In particular, it suggests that regulatory and governance structures of global trade, intellectual property and cyberspace prevent those on the Other side of uneven digital diffusion from creative participation, control and development and raise the possibility of becoming 'read-only' cultures in the digital revolution. It therefore critically examines the relevance of new commons and open source movements as alternative approaches from the perspective of developing countries.

For a general discussion of digital divide issues from developing country perspectives, see this draft paper by Professor Paliwala.

For a critical analysis of ‘digital commons’ issues from a mainly South Asian perspective, see https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/commons-law/

Abdul Paliwala, currently visiting UNSW Law Faculty, is Professor of Law and Director of the Law Courseware Consortium and Electronic Law Journals at the University of Warwick, and Senior IT Consultant with the UK Centre for Legal Education. He is an Associate of the Centre for Globalisation and Regionalisation Studies at Warwick, where he is researching the topic of the seminar. He is also Advisor to the UK Department of International Development on Safety, Security and Justice and has taught previously at the Universities of Papua New Guinea, Dar es Salaam and Belfast.

His books include Effective Teaching and Learning in Law 2001, Law and Crisis in Developing Countries 1993, Nuclear Disarmament, the Peace Movement and the Law 1987, Introduction to Law in Papua New Guinea 1983, and Law and Social Change in Papua New Guinea 1982.

Entry is free, but booking is essential. There is limited seating for this informal discussion. Please send an RSVP message to confirm your attendance.