Law Technology

ABA Section of Science & Technology Law: 2010 Law Student Writing Contest

By Rex Gradeless

The ABA Section of Science & Technology Law is pleased to announce the topic for its 2010 Law Student Writing Contest.  The contest is designed to encourage law students to write articles on subjects related to science and technology law and encourage a cutting-edge or innovative take on the topic.

THIS YEAR?S FOCUS: EMERGING LEGAL ISSUES IN THE STORAGE OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION

More than ever before, public and private entities process health, payment card, or other personally identifiable information in the course of their routine daily activities.  E-discovery statistics show that 90% of public and private enterprise records are now electronically generated or stored.  Yet the prevalence of data breaches involving personally identifiable information raises significant questions as to how such data is being stored and protected.

Contest submissions should address the following questions:  What are the most important emerging legal issues for entities that store personally identifiable information, and how should these issues be addressed?  What steps should government and private companies take to protect consumers from data breaches?  Are existing and proposed data breach laws effective in protecting individuals and preventing data breaches?  What security and privacy measures and controls should private organizations be required to take?  What legal standards should apply?  Successful article submissions should discuss how these issues should be addressed by (1) public and private entities in the discharge of their duties and obligations; and (2) courts, legislatures, and regulatory agencies as they seek to provide appropriate protection for the public at large.

The winner will receive a trip to the 2010 ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA and may have the submission published in The SciTech Lawyer.  All submissions are due March 1, 2010, and the winner will be notified by June 1, 2010.

Full contest rules and submission criteria can be found on the Section?s website at: http://new.abanet.org/sections/scitech/Pages/studentwritingcontest.aspx.

The ABA Section of Science & Technology Law was formed in 1974 to provide a forum for addressing issues at the intersection of law, science, and technology. Since then, the Section has grown to become a focal point for information and policy on many important issues, such as computer and information security law, privacy, cybercrime, scientific evidence, genetic research and engineering, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.  Learn more at http://new.abanet.org/sections/scitech.

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Full post as published by Social Media Law Student on February 24, 2010 (boomark / email).