Cyber law is designed to regulate how the Internet or cyberspace is used. It is rather broad and encompasses several different areas that may include freedom of expression, online privacy, and even access to/ usage of the Internet. Cyber law did not always exist until the advent of the Internet brought with it many cybercrimes that created the need to protect individuals and organizations with a presence on the Internet. Malicious individuals have often taken advantage of people and organizations to rob them of their identity and hard-earned money.
Cyber laws have helped to maintain order within the Internet community. Breaking these allows an individual or organization to file a lawsuit or take appropriate action against another person, which may include seeking compensation in damages. Below are the major areas of cyber law.
Fraud
This is perhaps one of the most common cyber crimes affecting millions of Internet users regularly. While cyber laws are designed to protect consumers from various forms of online fraud, you should also take the necessary measures to protect yourself from online fraud. Identity and credit card theft are some of the financial crimes that affect many people today and suspects face state or federal criminal charges or a civil action leveled against them by a victim.
Copyright
With the available information on the Internet, it has become easier to get involved in copyright violations. Individuals and corporations need copyright lawyers to help them bring action against copyright violations to enforce their copyright protection. Companies need to profit from their hard and creative work, which makes copyright infringement a crucial area of cyber law.
Trade Secrets
Online- and offline-based companies that have an online presence rely heavily on cyber law to help ensure that their trade secrets are protected. Many companies spend a lot of time developing their products and secret formulas or ingredients and have to protect those secrets at all cost. Cyber law attorneys can help you take legal action against people or employees that expose your trade secrets to other companies or individuals that can use them to compete with you unfairly or for malicious purposes.
Contracts and Employment Law
Agreeing to the terms and conditions of a company’s website to continue using their services gets you involved in cyber law. These contracts help to protect people and companies using technology to conduct business online. Lawyers often do their best to represent their client’s best interests in various areas of law. They can help in drafting and interpreting various areas of cyber law. For instance, disagreements about domain disputes may have to involve cyber law attorneys. This is particularly important in civil litigation that involves seeking monetary damages.
Defamation
While people have the freedom of expression and can speak their minds freely, some people say things that can damage a company’s reputation and amount to defamation. This has created the need for defamation laws that can help to protect individuals and corporations from untrue statements that could harm personal or business reputation. Using the Internet in a manner that violates civil laws is regulated by defamation laws.
Cyber law is designed to maintain order when conducting business and other activities online. Many people have fallen victim to online fraud and identity and credit card theft. While it is a relatively new area of the legal system, it has rapidly grown and many people are increasingly becoming aware of it. Today, cyber law has grown into different areas, including fraud, defamation, copyright, trade secrets, and contrasts and employment law. However, a cyber-law attorney can help to protect your rights online as an individual or corporation.