Rimantas Petrauskas

Master Studies on e-Governance Administration: The First Experience in Lithuania

The article provides discussions about teaching programs of e-governance, review of Master’s study programme “E-governance administration” providing curriculum of this program, the summary of the experience of the first teaching year of the program.

ICT adoption in the judiciary: classifying of judicial information

The article discusses one of the practical problems of information communication technology (ICT) use in the judiciary—classifying and categorization of legal information. This problem that plagues the judiciary in Lithuania is very important to solve in order to minimize the digital divide of the courts, increase transparency of judicial decisions, and increase uniformity of judicial practice and interpretations of the law. The problem is usually approached by applying standard ontological legal classification schemes from legal philosophy. However, such an approach is extremely demanding in terms of human time and labor. The practice of Lithuania is studied as an example of practical manifestation of the target problem. Suggestions are made that Artificial Intelligence‐ (AI‐) based XML or Resource Description Framework (RDF) tools may be employed in order to facilitate such classification.

E-redesigning of society: towards experiential connectivity of generations in Lithuania

The paper reflects on the unique experience of social and technological development in Lithuania since the regaining of independence as a newly reshaped society constructing a distinctive competitive IST-based model at global level. This has presented Lithuanian pattern of how to integrate different experiences and relations between generations in implementing complex information society approaches. The resulting programme in general is linked to the Lisbon objectives of the European Union. The experience of transitional countries in Europe, each different but facing some common problems, may be useful to developing countries in Africa.

The First Steps of e-Governance in Lithuania: From Theory to Practice

The article provides theoretical analysis of e-governance steps in Lithuania, based on comparative analysis of conceptual documents, strategies and plans, also draws conclusions on shortcommings thereof, and practical analysis of the issue. Existing two theoretical concepts of e-government in Lithuania are examined against selected theoretical and methodological criteria, while practical evaluation of e-governance steps in Lithuania is measured by experimental research of internet communication quality between citizens and government in Lithuania. In particular the research is targeted at websites of different public institutions and their feedback to citizens.

Compensating creativity in the digital world: reconciling technology and culture

New proposals on compensatory mechanisms and viability of traditional practices for online environment is currently being considered by the European Union and are subject of heated academic debate. Simultaneously new business models for distribution of intellectual property online are emerging rapidly. The paper focuses on the failures of the current compensatory mechanisms, as well as new proposals to compensate the creative in the online environment, including current online distribution practices, universal levy proposals -- Internet access and traffic levies, blank media levies, voluntary compensation systems, as well as traditional practices of the collecting societies, effects of the content protection technologies (DRM) on the accessibility and fair use of information online. The paper suggests the set of features for the new compensatory system, including socio-economic aspects of the different societies, and the need of uniform and worldwide compensatory system. Conclusions support the necessity to revise current compensatory mechanisms, centering on the proposed features, rather than just technological mechanisms, which dominate the current political agenda.

e-Governance: Two Views on Legal Environment

Legal reform aimed at creating of favorable legal environment is important part of e-government development. E-government legal solutions need to be legally binding and sound in order to succeed. Legal framework initiatives for e-Governance so far have followed two concurrent approaches. First one infers development of separate regulations covering individual questions pertaining to e-Government, under umbrella of special programs-plans. Second one, is a holistic framework, which could identify and address legal principles of e-Government in a single regulation. This approach may especially be applicable to cross-border issues and challenges common within any e-government environment. The article provides comparative review of these views on e-Governance regulation and their suggested benefits and flaws.

Lessig's implications for intellectual property law and beyond them

Abstract The undisputable merit of Lessigs works is his emphasis on the correlation between network technologies, intellectual property laws and the free flow of information, which is a key aspect of the sustainable information society. Technologies backed by intellectual property regimes are portrayed as an instrument allowing exercise of control over the information. These premises, which were clearly articulated by Lessig, form the core of the debate about the appropriateness of current intellectual property regimes. This article revises Lessigs ideas and proposals, but argues that Lessigs suggestions miss the economic aspect of intellectual property: ensuring fair compensation for creativity. The article therefore deals with the intellectual property aspects de-emphasized by Lessig, but having influence on the resolution dilemmas brought to the fore by Lessig and emphasized in recent European political agendas. The conclusions of the article suggest the important role of the compensatory aspects of intellectual property rights in ensuring the accessibility of information and sustainability of digital culture recognized by Lessig.

Legal regulation of electronic signatures in Lithuania

Rimantas Petrauskas, Rytis Cesna and Sylvia Mercado-Kierkegaard describe the reasons why the Lithuanian law had to be amended, and set out the provisions of the amended law.

Self-regulation Model for e-Governance Legal Framework

Self-regulation emerges as very important form for regulating different aspects of the electronic domain, and is advocated by current regulatory initiatives. Equally, the special laws and regulations are created to address e-governance issues. The paper suggests and analyses the possibilities of transferring elements of self-regulation model to the broader domain. The limitations of such transfer, as well as disadvantages thereof, which interestingly have many similarities, are analyzed, along with the practicality of applying self-regulation successfulness tests to measure governmental regulation of e-governance. In order to support the theoretical arguments, the empirical analysis of the ISP self-regulation in the Baltic’s on the issues of Internet content is made. Conclusions are drawn on the necessity for co-existence of governmental regulation and self-regulation, in order to facilitate the overall success of the e-governance legal framework.