ITechLaw

ITechLaw is an international association that provides education and networking opportunities for technology professionals and students in the area of technology-related legal issues.

Overview

Founded in 1971 and formally incorporated as a non-profit association in 1973, the International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw) positions itself as the world’s premier organization representing lawyers and other professionals in the technology sector. The organization’s global membership spans six continents and embodies a broad spectrum of expertise.

In addition to serving as a forum for members to discuss a wide range of legal issues, the association regularly organizes conferences that explore cutting-edge issues and trends in both information technology and intellectual property law. Its stated mission is to "create unparalleled opportunities for international networking and exchanging knowledge and experience with experts and colleagues around the world." [ [http://www.itechlaw.org/mission_statement.htm ITechlaw Mission Statement] ] ITechLaw is a non-profit organization partly supported by annual membership dues.

History

ITechLaw was founded as the Computer Law Association. [ [http://www.itechlaw.org/about.htm About ITechLaw] ] ITechLaw assumed its current name in 2006 to reflect its international membership and the convergence of computing technologies with other technology. [ [http://www.itechlaw.org/itechlaw_pressrelease_jan_26_2006.pdf Press Release] ] In 2008, ITechLaw opened its membership beyond legal professionals to other professionals with an interest in technology law issues. A detailed history of the association can be found at the ITechLaw Web site. [ [http://www.itechlaw.org/history_project.htm ITechLaw History Project] ]

Activities

ITechLaw’s activities include hosting national and international conferences, workshops known as CyberspaceCamp® and Webinars. [ [http://www.itechlaw.org/conferences.htm ITechLaw Conference Details] ] The organization typically holds three conferences each year to accommodate attendance by members worldwide. In recent years, ITechLaw has held annual meetings in North America, Europe and Asia. The Asian conference has been held in India [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS167025+14-Jan-2008+BW20080114 Reuters Article on India Conference] ] and the Annual Meeting and World Conference was recently held in Las Vegas, Nevada. [ [http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080409005815&newsLang=en Las Vegas Conference News] ] Conferences are open to members and non-members.

ITechLaw also organizes periodic Webinars to discuss issues of interest to its membership. Recent Webinars have discussed topics including data security, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), the Communication Decency Act (CDA) and the GNU Public License (GPL) version 3. Attendance of Webinars is open to members and non-members.

Publications

ITechLaw publishes a quarterly journal, the eBulletin, which discusses technology-related legal issues and recent court cases of interest. [ [http://www.itechlaw.org/publications.htm ITechLaw Publications] ] The eBulletin includes scholarly articles on timely issues relevant to technology lawyers, analyses of recent case law and with news and updates on the ITechLaw organization. An online archive is provided for members.

ITechLaw also publishes eNews, a monthly newsfeed about its members through which members also receive daily notices regarding updates about IT law.

Organization

ITechLaw is managed by a board of directors along with an executive committee composed of elected officers. As of 2008, the membership of the executive committee is as follows: [ [http://www.itechlaw.org/officials.htm ITechLaw Officials] ]

*President, John M. Carson, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, San Diego, Calif., United States
*Vice President, Ursula Widmer, Dr. Widmer & Partners, Attorneys-at-Law, Bern, Switzerland
*Treasurer, Sandra A. Jeskie, Duane Morris, Philadelphia, Pa., United States
*Secretary, Alexander Blumrosen, Bernard-Hertz-Béjot, Paris, France
*Assistant Secretary, John Beardwood, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Toronto, Canada
*Immediate Past President, Enrique J. Batalla, Batalla Abogados, Madrid, Spain

Additional information on Past Presidents and members of the ITechLaw Advisory Board can be found at its [http://www.itechlaw.org/advisory_board.htm website] .

References

External links

* [http://www.itechlaw.org/ ITechLaw Homepage]