Griggs, Lynden; Clark, Gene --- "Editorial" [1994] JlLawInfoSci 11; (1994) 5(2) Journal of Law, Information and Science 163

• EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

This issue of the journal begins with an article by Timothy Arnold-Moore that examines the issue of defamation on computer networks, a matter that should be at the forefront of people’s minds considering recent litigation in this area. That is followed by Carr and Williams considering the potential of the Singapore Computer Misuse Act and comparing it with the equivalent British legislation.

In past issues of the journal the use of legal expert systems has been discussed. In this issue the matter is considered further, but from the perspective of a practising solicitor. Brendan Scott takes the reader through a commercial and a litigious example of how a legal expert system could be deployed to assist the lawyer.

The Federal Privacy Commissioner, Kevin O’Connor looks at the use of smart cards and how privacy considerations will need to be taken into account should there use become more widespread than they are presently. This is followed by Brian Gibson detailing the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating computer based education into the curriculum of tertiary study.

This issue also contains four articles on the area of intellectual property. John Swinson, a regular contributor from the United States discusses recent US developments in patent law concerning computer software. This article is followed by Fitzgerald and Phillips detailing the recent Australian cases on this area. Yee Fen Lim then looks at the area of the authorisation of infringement of copyright and finally Clark examines the recent High Court decision of Nintendo v. Centronics Systems Pty. Ltd..

Nicholas Calabria completes this volume by analysing the use of computer based mapping in sustaining a claim for native title and then a number of book reviews. Finally I would note that in the previous issue of the journal, the reference to Australia in footnote 16 of the article by Carr and Williams should have read Austria. Sincere and warm thanks must also go to Rachel Davis for her assistance with putting this issue together.

Lynden Griggs and Gene Clark