Paper 4. Legal aspects relating to the acquisition, use and supply of new technology

SYNOPSIS. The legal considerations relevant to new technology may cover the whole range of law including in particular law relating to intellectual property rights, contract law and law of negligence. It may also be necessary to consider the law relating to restrictive trade practices. This paper is a brief summary of the principle legal aspects to be considered in any contract relating to new technology.

The legal aspects concerning the acquisition, use or supply of new technology are, in many respects, identical to the legal aspects concerning any major contract affecting a business or any contract for the acquisition or supply of goods or services. Different considerations will arise only in so far as the nature of new technology products and services differ from the nature of products and services previously used in a business.