In the twelve years since the publication of the paper “Law and Borders – The Rise of Law in Cyberspace” by David G. Post and David Johnson, law makers and courts in the US and EU have had to address numerous new questions arising from new information technologies and online activities. What have we learned applying existing legal principles to new Internet phenomena? What new principles have been established and what new concepts underlie these principles? What role will new regulatory models and regimes play in the future.

The Transatlantic Technology Law Forum (TTLF) [http://ttlf.stanford.edu] and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) [http://fsi.stanford.edu] will host the first Transatlantic Information Law Symposium on June 14, 2008 at Stanford Law School. The goal of the symposium is to bring together the leading experts from the US and EU to discuss current issues in information law and to promote mutual understanding of the different approaches.

The symposium will address the following topics:

Constitutional Rights and IT in the EU

The Right to Privacy in IT Systems in EU Law

The Right to Privacy in IT Systems in US Law

Freedom of Speech and the Internet in US Law

Network Neutrality in US Law

Property vs. Contract to Govern Online Behavior under US Law

Property vs. Contract to Govern Online Behavior under EU Law

The Future of Regulating Cyberspace - Open Discussion

This event is free and open to the public. For more information and registration, please click here.

Praised by international organizations, Slovenia and Estonia constitute the most successful post-communist economies. These two states are likewise success stories when it comes to democratic consolidation and state-building. Slovenia has opted for gradual market reforms guided by social justice while Estonia quickly reformed its Soviet economy into one of the most liberal in the world. Still, I argue that their roots of success coincide. Crucial opportunities of civil initiatives were never repressed in Slovenia and Estonia during the Communist period as in several other Yugoslav and Soviet republics. Distinct national identities continued to form and re-form during these decades and became deliberated rather than repressed, later strengthening reform capacities in decisive areas. In Estonia, national identities were further emphasized by ethically dubious processes that locked large Russian-speaking minorities out of citizenship.

Li Bennich-Björkman is Johan Skytte professor in political science at University of Uppsala, Sweden. She has published on the organisation of creativity, Organising Innovative Research, (Elsevier/Pergamon Press, 1997), on educational policies, integration and political culture. A dominant theme in her present research on Eastern Europe and post-Soviet States has been how historical and cultural legacies relate to the divergent post-communist trajectories. A particular focus has been on the three Baltic States. Within this framework, Ukraine has been included. Recent research activities have concerned the impact of the European Union on elite values and political culture in Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania. Her latest publication is a monograph published with Palgrave/Macmillan, Political Culture under Institutional Pressure. How Institutions Transform Early Socialization, (2007), dealing mainly with the Estonian Diaspora. Articles have appeared in the Journal of Baltic Studies (2006), East European Politics and Societies (2007) and Nationalities Papers (2007) as well as Higher Education Quarterly (2007). Comparative state-building in Estonia and Latvia was addressed in a recently published volume on Building Democracy East of the Elbe (Routledge/Sage:2006).

In this session of the Shorenstein APARC Corporate Affiliate Visiting Fellows Research Presentations, the following will be presented:

Atsushi Goto, "What is the Optimum Strategy for Broadcasting Companies?"

Goto’s research will describe the potential risks for broadcasters and then categorize top-tier broadcasters into several groups based on their strategies. Additionally, he will explain the optimum strategy for broadcasters, hypothetically, and the argument that he has made with experts in this area. Finally, Goto will conclude with the outlook of the broadcasting market.

Natsuki Kamiya, "Bilingual Education for Children of Immigrants"

The 1989 revision of Japan’s Immigration Law facilitated an influx of Brazilians to Japan. As a result, there are 50,000 Brazilians in the Shizuoka Prefecture. Although they have Japanese ancestry, their lack of proficiency in the Japanese language makes it difficult for them to assimilate into Japanese society. Kamiya’s research will cover bilingual education in the United States in order to make policies that will help Brazilian children learn Japanese while retaining Portuguese.

Yotaro Akamine, "Produce or Reduce? A Feasibility Study of Introducing Heat Pump Water Heaters as an Environmental Solution in California"

In 2006, a strong environmental regulation, AB32, became effective in California. Akamine’s research shows the feasibility of introducing "heat pump water heater", Japanese commercialized technology, as a solution to the environmental issue, as compared to solar photovoltaic business, which has prevailed in California.

Xiangning Zhang, "The Practices of the American Energy Policies -- American Major Oil Companies' Development Strategies and Practices"

The high oil prices ushered in the third global energy crisis. The United States has issued and put in force a series of new policies and acts to try to establish an energy jurisprudence through legislation. It is now a transitional period in the new energy age, where oil and gas still play a critical role in the energy consumption structure, but alternative resources are getting more attention. Major oil companies are becoming super giants in the integrated energy industry. The United States faces a long road ahead until it reaches parity with its European neighbors in new energy policies and practices.