BSS Business Legal Services: Information Technology











LEVEL 7, NO.1 CHANDOS ST ST LEONARDS NSW 2065 TELEPHONE: (02) 9439 5299 FAX: (02) 9439 6756

BSS Business Legal Services:

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

You don't have to be an "IT" company to need help with information technology problems.

Information Technology or "IT" is an exciting and developing industry. Bull, Son & Schmidt can assist you with any questions you may have about your rights or responsibilities when using, developing or selling IT.

Most people equate IT with the Internet, but IT includes technology you use every day including:

• E-mail

• Computers

• Software

• Internet

• CDs

• Scanners

• Printers

• Web site development

The legal issues involved with IT are numerous and are not restricted to e-commerce, secure online payments or copyright infringement.

IT Audit

Most businesses use IT in their daily activities including computers, accounting and word processing software and intranets. We can help you with the legal audit of your business IT requirements, including:

• Do you have software licenses which cover all of your users?

• Are you in breach of your software license for making copies for home use?

• Do you have leasing arrangements or finance arrangements for your computers, printers and/or photocopiers?

• When was the last time you reviewed the service agreements for your computers, printers and photocopiers?

• Is the information stored on your database or supplied over the internet to you secure and does it comply with the present privacy regulations?

• Do you have disaster back up arrangements?

• Are you a consumer or do you need to consider the rights of your internet users when conducting e-commerce?

• Copyright protection.

• Defamation.

E-mail

E-mail is a convenient and effective communication tool in people's commercial and private lives. However, the IT tradition of using e-mails as an informal means of communication is dangerous. We need to ensure we apply the same standards of communication that we use for other forms of communication.

The Internet is not immune to defamation and commercial/trade practices litigation. Most companies use back-up tapes to store information from their computer systems including e-mails. Recent litigation has proven that access to e-mails stored on these back-up tapes can make or break a case. Also the innocent forwarding of the latest 'blonde joke' could lead to an harassment claim.

IT Contracts

At Bull, Son & Schmidt we can also help you with the drafting, negotiation and execution of your IT Contracts including:

• software licences;

• web site hosting agreements;

• software development agreements;

• web site development agreements; and

• escrow agreements

Any questions? Contact us by email (lawyer@bullson.com.au), fax (9439 6756) or phone (9439 5299).