Minimizing Internet Risk

The Internet has revolutionized how companies conduct business. Utilizing Internet technologies, people now instantly share ideas with individuals around the globe, and companies can now reach previously inaccessible markets through their Web sites. Along with these advantages, however, the Internet and related technologies have added unique risks to today's businesses. As discussed in Part One of this article, these dangers include threats to a company's electronic information through viruses and worms as well as new legal liabilities stemming from a business' Internet usage. See, Barzilay, Ilan and Danford, Andrew, 'How the Internet Exposes You to Risk,' Internet Law & Strategy, Vol. 4, No. 10 (October 2006), www.lawjournalnewsletters.com/pub/ljn-internetlaw/4_10/news/147463-1.html. In addition, the Internet provides numerous threats to a business's intellectual property and makes unwary companies susceptible to suit for treading on the intellectual property rights of others. This part of the article reviews some of these hazards and summarizes steps that companies can take to minimize their exposure to these risks.