The computer and communications industries, drawing upon a common base of technology and competing for the same markets, are growing increasingly interdependent. Convergence of the technology used by these industries is evinced by the development in the telecommunications industry of an electronic switching system controlled by a stored program very similar to the system software utilized by computers. In this Article, Wayne Robins details recent technological developments that are crucial…

EFT is an excellent replacement for the check. Six billion dollars of float could be eliminated by creating a more efficient payment system. EFT is faster, more efficient, easier to use, and less susceptible to fraud and theft. In many areas of the country the check is useless to obtain cash. The law must now demonstrate that it is flexible enough to cope with electronic checks. If it does not…

There has been, and is, a battle of remarkable proportions being waged in the field of computer-related communications. Essentially, the protagonists are: the telephone industry, new “specialized” communications common carriers, independent equipment manufacturers, and major users of communications. In this Article, Charles R. Cutler discusses the effects of certain substantive regulations on both industries and considers whether regulations should be promulgated at the federal or state level. He concludes that…

The National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works has defined a set of subsidiary issues which have formed the basis for conducting its research and study activities. These issues include: (1) The manner in which computer software should be dealt with by copyright law; (2) How the copyright law should apply to automated data bases; (3) The copyright consequences of the input or output of a copyrighted work…

This Article will review the social milieu in which computer liability issues arise. It will explore the alternative legal theories upon which liability of the computer manufacturer and user might be based, from the negligent use of computer information to the implied or express warranties of computer vendors. Finally, it will suggest various methods by which users and dealers might avoid or reduce their liability exposure. Professor Chandler considers the…

Computers present difficult problems for the legal system. Because the subject matter is technically complex, many lawyers regard computer law as an esoteric, highly specialized area in which only the prescient and foolhardy dare enter. The authors in this section vigorously dispute this assumption. They suggest that the real problems presented by computers in our society—i.e., the invasions of privacy and absence of accountability of computer designers and users-result from…

This Article focuses on the impact of the computer on the legislative process. Dr. Ryan identifies two major problems with computer use which may prevent it from becoming the control mechanism envisioned by Professor Dorsey. First, although the House of Representatives is currently using a computer for various administrative, legislative, and information gathering functions, its potential is limited by the lack of imagination of its users. Thus, a fully automated…