[The main page for the course is here.]
TITLE: Technology Standards Seminar
INSTRUCTOR: Brad Biddle
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Standards are critically important in the information technology industry. Examples abound: WiFi has transformed how we go online. USB cables enable us to connect our computers, phones, cameras, music players and countless other devices. We send text messages using SMS. 3G telecommunications networks enable new devices and new ways to communicate. We listen to MP3-formated music and view DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. We browse the Internet, viewing web pages rendered in HTML. These well-known standards barely scratch the surface of important information technology industry standards, however. Large IT companies are involved in hundreds of different standards development efforts at any given time, and devote immense resources to standardization efforts.
Technology standards are developed in a bewildering variety of ways: some are driven by governments, others by large, diverse groups of industry and academia, some by large industry groups, some by small groups of companies, still others by non-commercial grassroots efforts. Standards development efforts are often the setting for fierce competitive jockeying between companies. Governments use IT standards as a tool to advance national interests.
This course will explore how technology standards are made, with an emphasis on the complex array of legal issues that practitioners in this field must navigate: intellectual property, antitrust, corporate, contract and trade law issues, all in an international context. Additionally the course will explore some key policy issues implicated by standards, such as how to ensure standards most effectively promote innovation and consumer welfare, and the public interest considerations raised when private sector-driven standards are adopted into public regulations.
HOURS OF ACADEMIC CREDIT: 2
GRADED COURSE, PASS/FAIL OPTION: AVAILABLE
GRADING: A research paper of 25-40 pages, including an annotated bibliography*, will represent 80% of a student’s grade. Ten percent of the grade will be based on the student’s in-class presentation on their research project, and the remaining ten percent (10%) of the grade will be based on class participation and attendance.
* With pre-approval of the instructor, research projects that manifest in a different format — but represent an equivalent effort — can suffice. For example, a comparative analysis of intellectual property policies of various standards development organizations, represented in chart form, might be substantially less than 25 pages but nonetheless embody an appropriate research effort. More detail on the research project here.
PARTICIPATION POINTS: Ten percent of the final grade will be based on class participation.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: A student’s attendance record will be included in the class participation grade.
