Information, communications, and privacy law
Information services and products constitute the world's largest and fastest-growing economic sector. Banking, insurance, transportation, health care, manufacturing, education, entertainment, communications, and service industries — the bedrock, in other words, of the modern economy — are being transformed by information technologies. But the proliferation of digital information and related technologies presents challenging new legal issues about the ownership, use, and protection of data. The demand for graduates skilled in this field is enormous and rapidly expanding.
This area of focus covers information law's traditional bailiwick and also keeps up with the ways in which new technology is constantly pushing the boundaries of the law. Students interested in these fields will also have the opportunity to participate in the research initiatives of the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research.
Information, communications, and privacy law intersect with another increasingly pervasive area of study: intellectual property. Students should consult the IP area of focus page for further details. Relevant IP course offerings are also listed below.
Courses
We offer a wide range of courses in information, communications, and privacy law in the United States and around the world.
- B668: Constitutional Law II (First Amendment)
- B662: Copyright Law
- B738: Cybersecurity
- B590: Entertainment Law
- B536: Health Law
- B536: Health Privacy Law
- B655: Information Privacy and Security Management Practicum
- B708: Information Privacy Law I
- B728: Information Privacy Law II
- B587: Information Security Law
- B792: Internet Law
- B792: Internet Law: Political and Legal Dimensions
- B743: Patent Law
- L664: Seminar in Information Privacy
- L712: Seminar in International Law: Drone Law
- L637: Seminar in Introduction to Biotechnological Innovation
- L730: Seminar in Intellectual Property
- L796: Seminar in Law and Medicine
- B751: Survey of Intellectual Property
- B758: Trademarks and Unfair Competition
Student activities and opportunities
We offer students a variety of other opportunities to gain valuable experience and study the field in more depth outside the classroom. For example, students complete externships at the Federal Communications Commission and in law firms and high-technology companies in Indiana and throughout the country; participate in IU’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research; serve on our national telecommunications moot court team; and compete in national writing competitions.
Related programs at Indiana University—Bloomington
Several joint degree programs are available, including:
- Doctor of Jurisprudence/Master of Arts/Master of Science in Telecommunications: The Law School and the Media School offer joint Doctor of Jurisprudence—Master of Arts/Master of Science degrees. Under the program, students may complete both the JD and the MA or MS in telecommunications in eight semesters.
Students customarily spend the first year in the School of Law and thereafter divide the second, third, and fourth years between the two units. Requirements for graduation are 79 credit hours in law (including all degree requirements) and 27 credit hours in telecommunications courses.
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Master of Arts in Journalism: The School of Law and the School of Journalism offer a joint Doctor of Jurisprudence/Master of Arts in Journalism degree.
Students would customarily spend the first year in the School of Law and thereafter divide the second, third, and fourth years between the two units. The joint program requires a minimum of 79 hours in law and 30 hours in journalism, including a thesis.
Faculty
- Fred Cate
- Dan Conkle
- Yvonne Cripps
- Mark Janis
- Dawn Johnsen
- Marshall Leaffer
- Michael Mattioli
- Susan Williams