REVIEW: NETLAW - Your Rights in the Online World   Osborne/McGraw-Hill  1995

This book is important for anyone needing to know their legal rights and
obligations in the online world.  The subject is fascinating because it is
so new that, in many cases, there are no legal precedents to guide us and
therefore, its like sailing in uncharted waters.

If there is such a person who is a recognized authority on the subject
of online law it would have to be Lance Rose, Esq.  He writes regularly
for WIRED and BOARDWATCH and is a moderator on LEXIS Counsel Connect, a
high-priced online system for attorneys.  His law firm specializes in
online legal matters.  He is definitely very well qualified to author such 
a book.

NETLAW covers many important issues - everything from freedom of speech,
censorship, contracts, copyright, privacy, the public domain and a whole
lot more.  There's a chapter on dangers and responsibilities in the online
world as well as online crime and what to do when the cops come knocking
on your door with examples of prominent search and seizure cases like 
the Steve Jackson Games case.  Also covered are adult materials, obscenity
and pornography.  

The appendices contain a lot of valuable goodies as well - sample contracts,
the text of relevant legislation such as the Electronic Communications
Provacy Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, New York's Computer Crime
Statute, the Child pornography Statute, relevant cases with citations,
a bibliography of sources of additional information and much more.  

America is, unfortunately, a lithigator's paradise - make a wrong move and
someone's waiting to sue you.  This book is not a substitute for competent
legal advice, but it may just save you from putting yourself in an awkward
and compromising position that could cost you big bucks and more.  NETLAW is
not an easy read, but author Rose has done a fine job with the difficult task
of writing about the Law for laypeople in language they can understand. 
It is therefore a valuable work and and every serious net user would be
well advised to read it.

%T      Netlaw - Your Rights in the Online World
%A      Lance Rose, Esq
%I      Osborne/McGraw-Hill
%C      Berkeley California
%D      1995
%O      $19.95
%G      ISBN: 0-07-882077-4 
%P      372 pp, paperbound
%K      Internet, computer networks, legal issues


(C) 1995
Michael Crestohl
Nahant Massachusetts  USA
mc@shore.net

DISCLAIMER:  I have no interest, financial or otherwise, in the success or 
failure of the book or materials reviewed herewith, nor have I received any 
compensation (other than a review copy requested by me) from anyone who has.  
All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Other Internet and Aviation book/software reviews by me can be obtained 
by anonymous FTP from:  x2ftp.oulu.fi in the /pub/books/crestohl directory.