JUS5680 - Internet Governance
Course content
The course concentrates on the emergent regulatory field termed “Internet governance”, which may be loosely defined as the various sets of norms (legal and non-legal) that determine how the Internet and its related applications function. In addition to elucidating the legal aspects of Internet governance, the course examines the regulatory role played by Internet architecture itself and how the technical standards for that architecture are developed.
Special consideration is given to governance of the Domain Name System (DNS), as a key component of what are commonly termed “critical Internet resources”. The course elaborates on the processes (legal and non-legal) that regulate allocation of domain names and resolve disputes connected to such allocation.
Account is also taken of the impact on Internet governance of:
- the EU legal framework for electronic communications
- the mechanisms set up pursuant to Phase 2 of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society
- the shifting arrangements for governmental oversight of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers
- the development of the Internet as a platform for social networking, communication between “things” (“Internet of Things”), and mobile services.
A salient set of issues taken up in the course concern the respective roles played in Internet governance by, on the one hand, contractual (and other private law) mechanisms and, on the other hand, legislative and treaty-based mechanisms.
Learning outcome
The primary objective of the course is to impart solid understanding of the steering and management of core elements of Internet infrastructure, particularly data transmission protocols and the Domain Name System. This involves providing insight into the interaction of legal and non-legal processes in the drafting and enforcement of basic Internet standards.
A secondary objective is to impart understanding of the respective roles and relative utility of respectively (i) contractual mechanisms and (ii) legislative and treaty-based mechanisms for global governance structures in Internet governance generally, but with a focus particularly on the management and steering of the DNS. This involves elucidating the legal parameters of the policy choices faced by the main stakeholders in DNS and Internet governance.
A further aim of the course is not just to impart knowledge of the relevant legal rules as they currently stand but also to encourage critical appraisal of them. This involves analysing and challenging the assumptions upon which the rules are based, and discussion of alternative regulatory possibilities.
Admission
Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
You may register for this course if you have admission to a Master of Law-programme at UiO, the Faculty of Law's exchange-programme or have admission to Law-electives at masters-level. All applicants must fill the formal prerequisites.
The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must fill one of these requirements:
- Passed 1st - 3rd year of studies in Master's of Law (masterstudiet i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or examinations that qualify for exemption from these) or
- Having a 5-years Master’s degree in Laws (masterstudiet i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or equivalent.
Students with admission to the faculty’s exchange programme and students with admission to any master’s degree programme at the University of Oslo (except masterstudiet i rettsvitenskap) has an exemption from the formal prerequisites.
Overlapping courses
5 credits overlap with JUR5640 - Electronic Communications Law and Internet Governance (discontinued), 5 credits overlap with VALTELE - Telecommunications Law (discontinued), 5 credits overlap with VALECLIG - Electronic Communications Law and Internet Governance (discontinued), 5 credits overlap with JUTTELE - Telecommunications Law (discontinued), 5 credits overlap with JUTECLIG - Electronic Communications Law and Internet Governance (discontinued), 5 credits overlap with ICTLTELE - Telecommunications Law (discontinued), 5 credits overlap with ICTLCLIG and 5 credits overlap with JUR1640 - Electronic Communications Law (BA) (discontinued).Teaching
Lectures/seminars.
Language of teaching for this course is English. This means that all communication during lectures/seminars will be in English, and all literature and auxiliary materials are in English.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Term paper with a maximum of 4000 words.
A draft should be handed in in the middle of the semester, maximum 5 pages. Delivery of the draft is mandatory. Students are awarded either a passing or a failing grade on the draft.
Use of sources and rules for citing.
Be sure that you are familiar with the use of sources and the rules for citing/quoting from others work .
UiO uses a plagiarism checking tool as one of several instruments for detecting suspicion of cheating and attempted cheating.
Examination support material
Id does not exist in shared textLanguage of examination
Id does not exist in shared textThe language of examination for this course is English. This means that the examination question will be given in English, and students may answer in English only.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.
Resit an examination
You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.
If a student has submitted a written assignment a second time in the same course s/he can only submit it in a new version. This means that there must be another title and theme, or that the new version must be considerably changed from the first version.
Students who wish to retake the exam in a later semester are not guaranteed that the course is ever repeated with a similar reading list, nor that the exam arrangement will be the same.
Withdrawal from an examination
Id does not exist in shared textSpecial examination arrangements
If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.
Evaluation
Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.
Other
The language for this course is English. Students enrolled in the Masterprogrammet i rettsvitenskap must pass one English subject as part of their degree, this course will meet these obligations.