Why You Need a Technology Lawyer for Your Business in the Digital Age

Over the last century, business has evolved tremendously. While many of the principles of good business practice remain unchanged (listening to your customers, maximizing efficiencies, building reliable partnerships, etc.), technology has shifted some priorities when it comes to business management. For example: data usage. With the rise of e-commerce, we’ve never had more customer data available at our fingertips. And how you protect that data could determine your business’ survival.  That’s why it’s so important to not only understand your reliance on technology, but also to leverage the expertise of a technology lawyer to help protect your business now and into the future.

What You Need to Know About Technology Law

Technology law is essentially what it sounds like: law that governs the use and management of technology and, specifically, information technology. Think a minute about e-commerce retailers. When a customer buys something online, they’re required to submit their name, billing and shipping addresses, payment information, and other contact information like their telephone number and email address. Much of that is personally identifiable information (PII), and the retailer is responsible for protecting it from threats like data breaches and data theft — this is otherwise known as data privacy.  Technology law includes: 
  • Data Privacy: regulating how information is collected, how users are informed, and how users can manage their data — like opting in or opting out of allowing businesses to use their data for marketing purposes.
    • Cybersecurity: also known as digital security, or the protection of computers and computer systems, including those that protect personal data. Cybersecurity can also include internet governance, which also overlaps with data privacy.
  • Intellectual Property: protecting creative digital properties like writing, music, art and design, etc.
 These three categories may not make up all areas within technology law, but they highlight some of the most common — and sensitive — areas that all businesses should keep in mind. 

The Role of a Technology Lawyer

A technology lawyer is a legal professional who specializes in dealing with technology law and its intricacies. Their primary goals are to assist clients in navigating technology laws and maintaining legal frameworks, protecting intellectual property, and upholding data privacy compliance across their entire business. There are many rules and regulations regarding data privacy, and not all are easy to understand or maintain. A technology lawyer can help a business stay up to date with data protection regulations so they can prevent misuse of data and keep the operation running smoothly. Specific privacy laws — like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the U.S. — must be followed, and a technology lawyer can oversee compliance with these laws. Related to data privacy is cybersecurity. A technology lawyer plays a critical role in protecting business data and responding to information breaches. That includes providing guidance and helping a business protect digital data from unauthorized access, corruption, and theft. A technology lawyer also plays a critical role in protecting a business’ intellectual property, including creative work like writing and design, as well as innovative software and apps, and more. The process of obtaining a trademark can be complicated and arduous, and a technology lawyer can help make it easier by performing a competitive audit to ensure originality, drafting the trademark application, and responding to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office if they require any follow-up actions.

Benefits of Hiring a Technology Lawyer

The role of a technology lawyer is as broad as it is essential to any business operating in the 21st century. In addition to guiding a business through technology laws and regulations, they provide peace of mind by proactively preventing issues and helping a business continue its day-to-day operations without worry. A technology lawyer will use legal strategies to prevent technology problems from arising and advise on issue prevention and problem resolution. This is where their expertise and experience plays a major role — and why you must work with a trusted technology legal professional. Additionally, a technology lawyer will guide a business on regulatory compliance and risk management. This helps keep operations running smoothly and without issue. Finally, a technology lawyer supports with tech-related transactions and contracts. For example, a business may need a subscription to a piece of software that handles logistics and product delivery. A technology lawyer will review the contract and ensure it does not put the business at risk regarding data privacy or security.

Let an Experienced Technology Lawyer Help Protect Your Business

The benefits of a technology lawyer extend beyond the content of this article, especially with the rise of automation and artificial intelligence to create greater efficiencies. Let a trusted expert like our team at Basecamp Legal guide your business through legal compliance regarding data privacy, data security, and intellectual property. We offer tailored solutions for every business and are committed to your success.Get in touch with us by calling 720-821-7460, or click here.

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