New institute on technology law at Masaryk University
A new Institute of Law and Technology that was established by specialists from Masaryk University´s Faculty of Law, will focus among other areas on basic rights of internet users, security of electronic business and computer and internet crime. The Institute – the first specialized workplace in the Czech Republic and Central Europe – will also educate experts in information and communication technology law, energy law and other related areas. Its activities start on 1st January 2010.
“The importance of modern technologies is still rising and that´s why we need to protect society against their negative effects. But at the same time we have to strive to retain maximum freedom for individuals,” says leader of the Institute Radim Polčák from the Faculty of Law.
The rules of behaviour for users of modern technologies have to be adapted – e. g. in the face of an increase in software piracy. According to police statistics more than 400 cases of software piracy were recorded in 2008, 25 % more than in 2006. Damage caused by attacks on data and data media has reached tens of millions of czech crowns. Because of the increasing importance of technology law Masaryk University´s Faculty of Law decided to establish a new Institute of Law and Technology and it has also run a Law and Technology project.
The new Institute broadens the portfolio of highly specialized law courses in Czech and English and offers its expert services provided by top lawyers to legislative, administrative institutions and courts, companies and lawyers´ offices. Thanks to this Institute the Czech Republic will have strong academic representation in specialized international fora and large-scale European projects. The Institute will broaden cooperation with employers from law offices, hi-tech companies, courts and administration.
The main goal of the project, which is financed by the European operational programme Education for Competitiveness to an amount of around 11 million Czech crowns, is the modernization of contemporary courses and opening of new courses in the field of technology law with the accent on law of information and communication technologies and energy law.