Law & Technology
Welcome to the beating heart of Start-Up Nation! Do you have a memory stick? Flash memory was invented a few buildings away from our law school, at the Faculty of Engineering at TAU. Do you use online banking? Your bank probably uses a firewall invented in Israel. Does your car have MobilEye installed? That too, was developed nearby, in Jerusalem. There is a reason why Google, Facebook, Amazon, IBM, Intel, HP and other global hi-tech companies have established research centers in Israel. We are in the midst of an information revolution, with Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and a mobile revolution converging. Our Law & Technology track focuses on the interface of law and technology. The track offers courses on Intellectual Property (IP), cyber and information law, and other related issues.
To complete your specialization in Law & Technology track, you must take at least 14-15 credits of the LL.M.’s 32 required credits, from courses within the Law & Technology track, but you are more than welcome to take as many courses as you see fit – and of course, that fit your schedule. You can focus on IP or on Information Law, or mix both. You can also choose to take courses from other tracks, in addition to general elective courses.
The professors and courses refer to the 2022-2023 academic year courses are subject to change every year.
Information Technology Law
Professor Niva Elkin Koren, Dr. Tamar Kricheli-Katz, & Dr. Uri Hachohen - Tel Aviv University
The purpose of the workshop is to explore the legal and policy implications of technology. The workshop will invite leading scholars to present their work-in-progress on various topics at the intersection of law and technology. Students will have an opportunity to discuss the papers directly with the paper presenters, and to comment on the papers in writing and during class.
Advanced Technology: Law, Regulation and Policy
Prof. Steve Zipperstein - UCLA
This course will focus on cutting-edge issues in technology and public policy, regulation and the law. The course is for students with existing familiarity with basic technology-related issues. The coursework will build on that foundation and focus on the public policy, regulatory and legal aspects of 5G wireless technology (including smart cities and telemedicine), autonomous vehicles, drones, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, facial recognition, biometrics, Bitcoin, Blockchain and other cutting-edge, advanced technology platforms. We will examine the emerging public policy, regulatory and legal responses to these advanced technologies in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere.
Introduction to Intellectual Property
Adv. Tony Greenman & Adv. Sarit Erez
Intellectual property is a key driver of the modern economy. The course will introduce the student to the theoretical basis and the legal foundations of intellectual property protection. We will examine the fundamentals of the laws of the traditional forms of intellectual property: copyright and related rights, patents, designs, trademarks and trade secrets. We will explore the subject matter, scope and term of protection, as well as questions of ownership and infringement. We will also discuss the balancing of IP rights with the public interest, such as the right of free speech and the free flow of information, and on the influence of advances in technology on that balance. Additionally, we will discuss the international regimes of protection and different approaches to the subject matter in various jurisdictions
International Intellectual Property Law
Prof. Amir Khoury - Tel Aviv University
While intellectual property is registered and protected on the national level there is a deep connection between national laws and international norms that exist with multiple intellectual property related conventions and agreements. In this course I shall share with you the story behind these agreements and the international organizations that have created them. In addition, I shall share with you ideas for the read ahead in the ever evolving world of international intellectual property regulation.
Protection Overlaps in Intellectual Property Law
Prof. Martin Senftleben - Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam
In intellectual property law, overlaps of exclusive rights stemming from different protection regimes raise particular problems. Nonetheless, the cumulation of rights has become a standard protection strategy in sectors ranging from the software and data industry to industrial design and entertainment. Against this background, this module offers a detailed analysis of the regulation of protection overlaps in intellectual property law. Which boundary lines are drawn between certain domains of intellectual property? Which combinations of rights are deemed permissible and used strategically in practice? Using international, US and EU legislation and case law as reference points, these questions will be discussed. Moreover, the course will explore alternative avenues for better law and policy making.
Licensing of Intellectual Property
Adv. David Mirchin - Meitar Liquornik Geva Leshem Tal
The focus will be practical rather than theoretical, and the course will address real-world business and legal scenarios faced by technology companies. The purpose of the course is to familiarize students with a wide range of licensing issues and ways to address divergent interests. We will cover in-depth licensing of software, content, trademarks and patents, as well as open source software and creative commons. We will review the purpose of various key terms in licensing agreements, the interests of each party, and a variety of fallback and alternative solutions which could serve your client and "make the deal happen." Students will also learn about various forms of agreement related to intellectual property licenses, such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) agreements, software maintenance agreements, Service Level Agreements, and software escrow agreements.
Start-Up Law
Dr. Ayal Shenhav & Adv. Gal Hoffman - GKH Law Office
Israel is known as "Start Up Nation". During the course Start Up Law we will review the Israeli Start Up Eco System and the major legal and financial events of a start up from formation until exit.
The following topics will be discussed:
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Israeli Start Up Eco-System – how Israel became "Startup Nation" (key policy decisions)
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Founder Agreements
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Incorporation of the company - Key corporate and tax aspects
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Venture Capital Funds- Structure and operations
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Venture Capital Funds – Investment Transactions
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Raising funds through Crowd Funding Platforms
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Commercialization of Technology – Licensing Agreements, Distribution Agreements, Software as a Service ("SAAS") and more.
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Employment Law Issues for Start Ups (Non-Compete, Employee Inventions)
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Stock Option Plans.
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M&A Transactions
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The IPO process
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Government Support and Incentives for Start Ups – The Israeli Innovation Authority.
Law & Information Technology
Prof. Niva Elkin Koren - TAU
Information technology is affecting every aspect of our lives, transforming work, trade, communities, politics and governance. The law is called upon to respond to these changes, by applying old doctrines to the new information environment. At the same time, however, courts and legislators are also playing a key role in shaping technological innovation, business models, social relations and political structures. This seminar explores the complex relationship between law and information technology. It offers an in-depth exploration of some of the challenges to law in the digital era, emphasizing regulatory options and policy considerations. The study of law in the digital environment further offers an opportunity to explore new types of governance, using digital platforms, Artificial Intelligence and data, and to re-examine some premises regarding the law and how it operates.
Responsible Ai, Law, Ethics & Society
Prof. Niva Elkin-Koren – Tel Aviv University
A joint course, of TAU Law in collaboration with the Technion (Israel), Boston University (USA) and Bocconi (Italy).
The deployment of Artificial Intelligence systems in multiple domains of society raises fundamental challenges and concerns, such as accountability, liability, fairness, transparency and privacy. This course brings together students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds in law, data science and computer science, to work in collaborative teams on joint tasks. The course comprise of a series of intensive in-class sessions, each includes lectures, discussions, and group work.
Prerequisites: Registration is subject to the instructor prior approval. Call for Application will be posted in August 2022.
Law & Technology
Prof. Michael Birnhack & Prof. Assaf Jacob – Tel Aviv University
Digital networks offer an almost infinite number of speech activity, scams and more. What is the relationship between law and information technologies? This is the topic of the workshop. We will discuss these issues by way of critically reading yet-unpublished works in progress on cutting-edge topics, written by leading scholars in Israel and abroad, and discussing the papers with the authors. This is an advanced seminar, and assumes prior familiarity with the general themes of law and technology (please see pre-requisites). Students will be required to read papers in advance, comment in writing, actively participate in classes, and comment in the workshop itself. For foreign / exchange students: students in the Law & Technology track of the International LL.M program are expected to take the workshop. Exchange and other foreign students should meet the prerequisite of having studied at least one course on internet law / cyberlaw / intellectual property/ digital privacy.
Online Speech Governance on Private Platforms
Prof. Kate Klonick - St. John’s University Law School
This course will explore the intersection of public, private, and platform law in governing online speech on major transnational user generated content platforms, such as Meta, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit and others.
**These are the courses that are being offered during the 2022-2023 academic year. Courses are subject, and likely, to change year to year. Applicants will be sent a final course list once it is available.
