In class on 9/15, each group was given a topic to research. The purpose of this assignment is to get some practice in researching a topic as a group, and specifically finding some of the laws, legal precedents, and background disagreements pertaining to ethical and legal issues.
What To Do:
Make your group experts on a topic.
1. Identify the key legal provisions / key findings / key laws
2. What is/is not permitted? What is/is not prohibited? What are the consequences?
3. What are your major open questions? (Feel free to dig deeper as time permits)
Post to Piazza as a group.
Post a short (2-4 paragraph) description of the points in 1-3, above. This should be written as a group—every member should have read it, contributed some wording, made substantial edits, or otherwise been significantly involved.
One person should post it, with the names of everyone who contributed at the top of the text.
Do not include the names of group members who did not participate in the writing process.
Use the hashtag #legaltopic.
Grading
50% of your score on this assignment will be based on participation in the in-class discussion, and 50% on the posted summary. If you didn't attend class, get in touch with your group members and see if you can usefully get involved in the writing process. If you don't participate in the writing process, do not add your name to it.
Addenda:
Q: How do points 1 and 2 differ?
A: They have some overlap. But, in the case of trademark infringement, knowing that the main legal test is "a test of confusing similarity" and how it affected the Apple v. Apple case is different from knowing that trademark means you can't use someone else's logo, but you can have the same name if you sell different classes of thing.
- Assignment by Dr. Cynthia Matuszek; adopted & adapted from Fall 2014.