LAW 276P - e-Commerce Practicum

The Electronic Commerce Practicum (E-Commerce Practicum) will explore the changing landscape of commerce online, specifically the bleeding edge of e-commerce with public Blockchains, decentralized finance (“Defi”), and non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”). Students may be aware of the growth of Amazon, Wish, or eBay, and other online first companies. What students, and seasoned attorneys, are less aware of is the rapid changes occurring to e-commerce due to Blockchain technology. This practicum will cover current day e-commerce, the central nature of payments in e-commerce, and how all of this is being disrupted by Blockchain technology.

The practicum will cover a range of topics from core commercial law applied to e-commerce (internet sales and securing financing for internet startups), to evolving legal issues, including drafting Terms of Service for Blockchain companies, how to regulate software, if at all, and the changing nature of online exchange. Treatment will be provided on the obligation of e-commerce companies with their reliance on machine learning and big data, and how both can hurt consumers with unfair treatment. The course will cover both transactional and litigation skills, and will involve advising a hypothetical client on their journey from idea, to fundraising, a launch of a product, and the bumps along the way. Credits: 3. Bombace