India Business Law journal, February 2009.

Cyber-venture for Seth Associates

Seth Associates, a full-service law firm based in New Delhi, has launched a specialist arm focusing on cyberlaw and information technology. Cyberlaws Consulting Centre (CCC) is headed by Karnika Seth, a noted specialist in the area. CCC has been established to act as a research centre as well as to provide consultancy services and represent clients in litigation.

The consultancy will advise on internet and cyberlaw-related issues. These include the viability of e-commerce models, legal and regulatory compliance in different jurisdictions, Cyber investigations and litigation, hacking, credit card frauds, online defamation and impersonation, cyber stalking, phishing, taxation issues, Copyright and trademark infringements on the internet and data protection issues.

Seth said: “As most businesses depend on use of computers and internet technology and new forms of transacting business through e-commerce, knowledge of cyberlaw is becoming indispensable”. She pointed out that conventional laws of contract such as trademark and copyright would be insufficient in offering protection in the online world, which requires special modifications, “considering the nature of the medium and complexity of cyberspace”.

“A few countries have already acknowledged this fact and have passed specific legislation with respect to information technology”, adds Seth. “The legal matrix, the role of the judiciary and other enforcement agencies can be better understood through a fair knowledge of cyber laws”.