Dr. Ronald B. Standler Lawyer in Massachusetts
Computer Law
c.v.BiographyFeesTechnology LawEducation LawCopyright LawContact
I earned a Ph.D. in physics in 1977, then worked in electrical engineering
research and consulting until 1995. I have programmed computers since 1968,
and been a webmaster since 1997.
Since 1998, I am licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.
I am admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Massachusetts,
as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.
Services available include:
software license agreements, including shrinkwrap contracts or end-user license agreements (EULAs)
law of Internet, cyberspace, online services, computer bulletin boards
copyright infringement
(e.g., computer software or content of websites)
trademark infringement, domain name disputes,
unfair competition
privacy of e-mail
development of a computer
Acceptable Use Policy
for an employer or internet service provider
duty to maintain reliable equipment and software
duty to maintain secure data (i.e., privacy, trade secrets)
design defects in computer hardware or software
computer technology
information technology
misuse of computer hardware or software
(e.g., civil liability for hackers)
nondisclosure agreements and other protections for intellectual property
liability for errors or harmful information in content of databases
("information torts")
I can easily travel to towns in northeastern Massachusetts,
or to the Boston area, including Cambridge, MA.
About Dr. Standler
By way of introduction, I:
programmed computers since 1968
(mostly numerical models of physical phenomena,
automatic collection of data from scientific instruments,
statistical analysis of data, and design of numerical algorithms),
earned a Ph.D. in physics in 1977,
was a professor of electrical engineering for ten years,
wrote more than 30 archival technical papers and
one book,
am the webmaster of my website since Jan 1997, and
am an attorney in Massachusetts since December 1998.
I shall personally do all work on my client's case or problem,
so that my client gets the full benefit of my education and experience.
My technical experience means that I not only understand technology,
but also I am personally aware of the importance of protecting intellectual
property rights of programmers and companies who have paid for
research and development expenses.
My homepage at www.rbs2.com/
contains links to documents with my credentials,
my current fees, how to contact me, and
links to my essays on other topics in law.
My Essays About Computer Law
Essays on this website are provided only to provide general information
and to communicate my personal comments on interesting topics in
law, technology, and society. Essays on this website are neither
legal advice nor legal opinion. Accessing this website or reading
documents on this website does not create an attorney-client
relationship. See my disclaimer
for details.
All essays at this website are protected by copyright.
I have posted my Terms Of Service
for printing, copying, and distributing my essays
at this website.
I am an attorney only in Massachusetts, so I can not provide
legal advice to people in other states of the USA, unless they have been
injured or sued in Massachusetts, or unless your local attorney hires me as a consultant.
However, I have posted the following hints for
how to find an attorney.
My long essay on examples of
malicious computer programs
(e.g., computer viruses and worms) emphasizes the
nonexistent or weak punishment for the authors of those malicious programs.
I have also written an essay on how to recognize e-mail that contains a
hoax about computer viruses.
My essay on copyright law in the USA
considers copyright infringement on the Internet, as well as
fair use, photocopy machines, and plagiarism.
My essay on trademark law discusses some
abuses on the Internet.
Computer equipment is vulnerable to damage by
electrical surges
on the power and data conductors.
While surges are mostly an engineering problem,
there may be legal liability for electric and telephone utilities,
and also liability for manufacturers of computer equipment.
Computers and other electronic technologies can be used
to invade people's privacy. For example,
privacy of e-mail is a serious concern
to many people. My other essays on privacy are
listed in a separate webpage.
My discussion of issues in preparing a computer
Acceptable Use Policy
mentions more than twenty substantive issues to consider.
My discussion is cast in a university environment, but similar
issues occur in policies for businesses.
Copyright 2009-2011 by Ronald B. Standler
This document at http://www.rbs2.com/icomp.htm
first posted 14 Jan 2009, revised 16 May 2011