The Philippine IT Law Journal

In This Issue

• “Hacking” the Mercantile Law Bar Exam Questions
by Michael Vernon M. Guerrero
• Editorial
by Dean Mariano Magsalin Jr.
• Electronic Authentication System: A Breakthrough in Notarization
by Ma. Cristina A. Ramos
• The Philippine Rules on Electronic Evidence: An Outline
by Jaime N. Soriano
• Jurisprudence in CyberLaw
by Jaime N. Soriano
• Optical Media Act : A Panacea to Piracy
by Ailyn L. Cortez
• The Domain Name System (DNS) and Administering the root ccTLD .ph
by Michael Vernon M. Guerrero
• Spamming the World
by Charilyn A. Dee
• A Synopsis of the e-Commerce Law
by Jaime N. Soriano
• Overview of Selected Legal and Regulatory Issues in Electronic Commerce
by Jaime N. Soriano
• Lexicon of CyberLaw Terminology
• 91 New Lawyers from the Arellano University School of Law
• [ LegalWeb ] Lawphil.net: A step in the right direction
by Carlyn Marie Bernadette C. Ocampo-Guerrero and Michael Vernon M. Guerrero
• Digital Law & the Imperatives of the e-Law Center
by Jaime N. Soriano
• The Birth of the IT Law Society
by Carlyn Marie Bernadette C. Ocampo-Guerrero

Editorial Board

• Atty. Jaime N. Soriano, CPA, MNSA; Chairman

• Ailyn L. Cortez
• Charilyn A. Dee
• Jhonelle S. Estrada
• Peter Joseph L. Fauni
• Carlyn Marie Bernadette C. Ocampo-Guerrero
• Michael Vernon M. Guerrero
• Ma. Cristina A. Ramos
Contributor-Members

IT Law Society Officers

• Michael Vernon M. Guerrero, President
• Carlyn Marie Bernadette C. Ocampo-Guerrero, Secretary
• Ailyn L. Cortez, Treasurer
• Charilyn A. Dee, Head, Web Development
• Ma. Cristina A. Ramos, Head, Research and Seminar
• Peter Joseph L. Fauni, Head, Publication
• Aileen T. Forteza, Head, Advocacy

Digital Law & the Imperatives of the e-Law Center
by Jaime N. Soriano

The global development in information technology resulting from the phenomenal convergence of computers and communications has brought about a new face and challenges in law practice and legal education. As information technology dramatically affects the way people live, it also affects in the same degree almost every aspect of existing legal systems and relationships. Needless to say, the law must be technology neutral and must always adapt to the needs of the times.

Governments, international bodies, and the general public all over the world have started to prepare for this technology revolution, so to speak. Many law schools and bar associations kicked-off the formation of units dedicated to information technology developments within their respective institutions. In the Philippines, much has to be desired in this area from the academic community because of its strong adherence to the highly conservative and traditional approach to legal education. Unfortunately, the paradigm shift is inevitable.

In the light of the foregoing imperatives, the Arellano University School of Law caused the creation of the "e-Law Center", a body, functioning within its organizational framework, to take the lead within the academic circle in the areas of research, policy advocacy, and legal education that addresses the developments in technology law.

The Center has the following objectives:

Conduct research and studies in the field of information and communication technology as it affects the Philippine legal system including the monitoring, critique and publication of papers of global and local developments in this area.
Maintain the most complete, comprehensive, organized, and up-to-date information system, database, and library of resources on information technology that will cater and be accessible, not only to the students and faculty of the law school, but also to researchers, policy makers and the public, in general.
Pursue policy initiatives and advocacy on the development of Philippine law on information and communication technology including the crafting of proactive proposals for legislative or regulatory action.
Regularly organize and hold lectures, trainings, seminars, conferences or presentations on technology law, particularly to make its students, faculty and graduates, and the academic community at-large always attuned to, and be recognized as a leader in, legal developments in this field.
Assist in the development of an appropriate infrastructure to make the law school the most technology-friendly institution in the field of law by promoting and enhancing its on-line legal research and interactive legal instructions capabilities.
Establish appropriate linkages with other institutions, organizations, or bodies, in and out of the country, with the end of view of promoting common objectives, sharing resources, study exchange, and institution of networks along the lines of technology law particularly as it affects the Philippine legal community.
Generate grants, sponsorship, or funds to subsidize specific studies, research, projects or investigations on a distinct or difficult aspect of technology law.

The Center was organized on 22 November 2002 and is headed by Professor Jaime N. Soriano, a cyberlaw practitioner.