Internet law or Cyberspace law concerns the legal issues relating to the Internet. Since the web is international and ethereal, this form of law is unique. Since the Internet is not geographically bound, national laws cannot apply. Internet law has 4 primary modes of regulation and they include Laws, Architecture, Norms, and Markets.
Laws – There are various laws that vary from states, countries and international groups. These include areas such as gambling, child pornography, and fraud. However, these laws can be confusing since most Internet sites are hosted in foreign countries, but available globally.
Architecture – These are laws on how Internet information is transmitted through the Internet. They include everything from filtering software, firewalls, encryption programs and transmission protocols, like TCP/IP.
Norms – This refers to how people interact with one another. For example, Internet groups will be comfortable and often welcome moderate comments, but frown upon offensive or off-topic comments. If offensive comments occur, most often the user will be blocked from the site and often reported to the host.
Market regulation – Market regulation consider traditional economic principles of demand and supply. If something is unpopular, it will lack demand. If there is something that is popular and is eventually in oversupply, competitors will have to differentiate themselves from one another. This prevents one single website dominating the market or a particular subject and drives innovation.