QUT Law & Justice Journal Vol 3 No 1 2003

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LAW AND TECHNOLOGY AT QUT LAW SCHOOL

Introduction

Stephen Corones

There has been a growing interest in the general area of Law and Technology at the Queensland University of Technology Law School, inspired in part by the arrival of the new Head of the Law School, Professor Brian Fitzgerald.

In 2002 the Law School arranged for four events to disseminate to the profession and industry some of the more contentious issues arising in this rapidly developing area of the law.

The first event was a conference on 3 July 2002, on the topic 'Legal Issues Relating to Free Open Source Software' organised by Professor Fitzgerald. This conference was sponsored by the United States software company, Red Hat, and Queensland Government Department of Innovation and Information Economy.

Speakers and topics included:

• 'Welcome Address' by The Honourable Paul Lucas MP (Minister for Innovation and Information Economy)
• 'An Overview of Free and Open Source Software Licences' Brian Fitzgerald and Graham Bassett
• 'Legal Issues Arising from the Use of Free and Open Source Software in Business' Mark Webbink
• 'Live from Silicon Valley' David Schellhase, Larry Rosen and Bill Lard
• 'Security and Free and Open Source Software: The SE Linux Experience' Professor Bill Caelli
• 'The Developer's Perspective' Andrew Tridgell, Paul Gampe and Rhys Weatherley
• 'Advising on Free and Open Source Software: An Australian Perspective' Peter James and Martin McEniery

It is hoped that some of these papers will be published in a subsequent issue of the Journal.

In September 2002, the Law School hosted the visit of Professor Donald Chisum from Santa Clara University. An expert on patents and author of the definitive work on the subject, Professor Chisum gave a public lecture attended by over 300 people on 'Intellectual Property: The new strategic tool of the future'. In addition Professor Chisum taught in the LLM elective LWN036 'Select Issues in Intellectual Property'.

In November 2002 the Law School also hosted a visit by distinguished Harvard Law Professor Terry Fisher. Professor Fisher gave a public lecture entitled 'The Future of Online Entertainment', and also taught in the LLM elective - LWN125 'Electronic Commerce Law'.

The fourth event for 2002 was a half-day forum entitled 'Competition Law in the Computer Industry' organised by Professor Stephen Corones. The forum was sponsored by law firms, Allens Arthur Robinson and Phillips Fox, and held in the Parliamentary Annex on 1 November 2002.

The conference was opened by the Hon Paul Lucas, Minister for Innovation and Information Economy. Three of the papers presented at the forum are included in this special section of the Journal.