This book is intended to provide its readers with an awareness of legal issues associated with computing – particularly in the massively networked context of the Internet. It assumes no previous knowledge of the law or any special knowledge of programming or computer science. It is not a law school “casebook,” although there are many cases presented here (in redacted form). The unredacted cases are available at a website (www.cambridge.org/9780521886505) associated with this volume, with the portions that were ultimately redacted highlighted to make them easy to find.

Of necessity, the book contains a considerable amount of very basic legal information on a variety of topics. It is impossible to consider the workings of the law in cyberspace without at least some knowledge of the fundamental workings of the law in physical space. Again, this information is unsuitably elementary for the professional lawyer or the law student. They have enough information tailored to their needs. My hope is to reach people who do not have much legal knowledge.

Because the book is aimed at a more general audience, the format of the presentation of the cases is unusual. Judicial opinions can be very difficult reading for the non-lawyer or non–law student. Therefore, in the text of the cases, I have included in bold print comments on what is happening, on the importance of a particular statement, or on the importance of the case to “cyberlaw” in general. Many of these comments might suggest interesting topics for essays or discussion.