Welcome to the first edition of Computer Forensics Onlinetm, a bi-monthly web magazine that will present issues concerning computer law from a technical perspective. The intended audience consists not only of attorneys, judges, law enforcement officials and computer specialists but also anyone using a computer to whom legal issues are important. Everyone who uses the internet needs to know about computer law. We feel that it is important to keep the public informed on pertinent legal issues concerning computers. Therefore, the presentations will be understandable to lay people as well as attorneys and computer professionals. However, a technical viewpoint will always be supplied.

In this issue, we are dealing with such pertinent issues as:

    • legal implications of the Year 2000 problem (or millennium bug)
    • crimes and torts committed on the internet and internet law in general
    • pretrial discovery of computer based evidence
    • use of electronic signatures for identification and verification
    • the selection and use of technical experts in computer litigation
    • methods used by technical experts to detect software piracy
    • trade secret protection for software
    • avoiding problems associated with computerization
    • the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur as applied to computer litigation

 Two articles in this issue deal with the Year 2000 problem. We feel that this will be the most important event to ever affect the data processing industry. The aftermath of this predicament could severely influence the global economic structure for the first five years of the new century. The Year 2000 related litigation potential is enormous. Because of its importance, we will continue to present Year 2000 issues in future editions. We also feel that the internet and the legal issues governing its use are of intense interest to everyone. Therefore, we will continue to provide information on this subject regularly.

We invite your comments, and ask you to send us e-mail. We also invite you to register with us. When you register, we will send you e-mail telling you of updates and other relevant happenings. At Computer Forensics Onlinetmyou have our word that your name will not be provided to any mailing list. We ask you to register only to serve you better and for demographic purposes.

In closing, I hope that you enjoy this issue of Computer Forensics Onlinetm

Sincerely,

Stanley H. Kremen,
President DPLC, Inc. & Editor CFO