Institute for Information, Telecommunication and Media Law

Last updated
Institute for Information, Telecommunication and Media Law
Institute for Information, Telecommunication and Media Law, Muenster, Germany.jpg
Established1997
PresidentProf. Dr. Thomas Hoeren
Staff40
AddressLeonardo-Campus 9, 48149 Münster, Germany
Location, ,
Coordinates 51°58′29.28″N7°36′13.68″E / 51.9748000°N 7.6038000°E / 51.9748000; 7.6038000
Website ITM Web-site

The Institute for Information, Telecommunication and Media Law or ITM ( ‹See Tfd› German : Institut für Informations-, Telekommunikations- und Medienrecht) is a research and educational organisation located in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. All major research projects conducted by ITM are ordered by the European Commission. The institute's scientific council is made up of Prof. Dr. Gunnar Bender  [ de ], Wilhelm Berneke, Jon Bing, Santiago Cavanillas, Herbert Fiedler  [ de ], Heinz Lothar Grob  [ de ], Fritjof Haft  [ de; ja ], Bernt Hugenholtz, Hans Jarass  [ de ], Wolfgang Kilian  [ de ], Miriam Meckel, Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker, Ursula Nelles  [ de ] and other prominent scientists.

Contents

Research objective

ITM logo Institut fur Informations-, Telekommunikations- und Medienrecht (emblem).png
ITM logo

The Institute for Information, Telecommunication and Media Law (ITM) aims to explore the legal framework conditions of information society. To learn from the experiences of other countries, comparative law is granted a special position. Furthermore, the institute's tasks consist of the representation of information, telecommunication and media law in academics and further training. Its members focus on possible applications for interactive media in academic teaching and further legal information topics.

Information, telecommunication and media law is a multidisciplinary matter which cannot even approximately be covered by any of the traditional legal disciplines – civil, criminal and public law. The ITM therefore strives for interdisciplinary research and teaching activities. For that reason the board of directors contains professors for civil law, criminal law and public law. This institutional structure is the only of its kind in Germany.

Area of researches

Information law

Information law deals with legal problems arising from electronic data processing (EDP). Whereas formerly goods and services were the main focus, today intangible assets like know-how, data collections, experience and ideas have gained increasing economic importance. Information society is a term used to describe the modern world, where images, texts and sounds are linked digitally. Despite the significance data has gained in society, its legal classification is still open. Most notably in terms of civil law, there are great difficulties in determining who certain data belongs to as well as in defining the individual rights involved in that ownership. These issues constitute the primary concern of the department's research activities.

Telecommunication law

Research is especially required in the following fields:

Media law

Media law comprises film and music law, more precisely legal issues regarding the creation and utilisation of films and music. Particular emphasis is put on copyright aspects and legal problems in film and music distribution.

This area deals with changes in the legal professions (e.g. judges, lawyers in the private sector and those in public administration) due to the use of electronic data processing.

Scientific activities

A lecture on the legal matters of data protection held at the ITM A lecture at the ITM.jpg
A lecture on the legal matters of data protection held at the ITM

Current research projects

Completed research projects

ITM Library File-ITM Library.jpg
ITM Library

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References