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We welcome readers to this issue of JILT published by a new editorial and publication team. Our next planned issue is on Information Technology Law in South Africa.

Mizanur Rahaman has shouldered the greater part of the burden of preparation of the articles for publication and Sabrina Zheng and Paul Trimmer have been responsible for getting it online. We are grateful to all three.

Our editorial team has been strengthened by the following new members improving our already strong links with the British and Irish Law Education and Technology Association. The additional members include:

• Karen Barton ([email protected])
  University of Strathclyde, UK
• Dr. Subhajit Basu ([email protected])
  Queen's University Belfast, UK
• Prof. Joseph Cannataci ([email protected])
  University of Central Lancashire, UK
• Dr. Martina Gillen ([email protected])
  Oxford Brookes University, UK
• Judith Rauhofer ([email protected])
  University of Central Lancashire, UK
•  Kevin Rogers ([email protected])
  University of Hertfordshire, UK
• Burkhard Schafer ([email protected])
  University of Edinburgh, UK
• Sefton Bloxham ([email protected])
  University of Cumbria, UK

Comment on This Issue: 

Regulation of Convergence - The concerns of this issue include regulation of convergent technology as indicated by Bannon’s article on the European privacy and data protection implications of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). On the other hand, Geach is more concerned with the impact on commercial creativity of the EU’s Audio-Visual Media Service Directive. He suggests that those who argue for relaxed regulation of Internet Protocol TV misunderstand the significance of the need to regulate all convergent technologies.

E-Governance and Digital Inclusion - Two articles specifically examine the issue of E-Governance. Norton considers the UK’s Directgov initiative and after comparing it with developments in Canada, USA, Singapore and Estonia suggests that there is a missed opportunity as far as the promotion of e-democracy is concerned. Iglezakis considers the interesting Greek Constitutional provision on e-participation and suggests that this otherwise progressive measure suffers from an absence of actionability, which may undermine the otherwise laudable aim of promoting digital inclusion. Digital inclusion is also the theme of Endeshaw’s article. He considers the role of Intellectual Property in promoting a digital divide and argues controversially that The article concludes that, while IP does contribute to the digital divide, some of its critics fail to recognise the paramount role of the economic and social environment within which it has developed; consequently, any proposals for overthrowing IP leaving that environment intact will remain fanciful.

Taxation of E-Commerce – Basu’s article on taxation of e-commerce considers the arguments about taxation of e-commerce and whether it is feasible or desirable to do so. This is based on his interesting new book on the subject and we are very pleased to include a review by David Salter, a leading tax expert.  

The increasing role of cyberspace and its regulation is equally reflected in the shift in information technology law. As Vranaki’s review indicates, Murray’s book on the Legal Regulation of Cyberspace is an important new contribution to the subject.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank all our authors, reviewers and readers for their continuing support over the years.

 

Abdul Paliwala

On Behalf of the Editors