As mentioned previously in Spyware and Trespass, spam can, in principle, properly be considered a type of trespass—since it is a means by which the spammer uninvitedly uses another’s property. As noted, a classic case is CompuServe v. Cyber Promotions, which held that transmitting a substantial volume of unsolicited e-mail to someone’s computer, after demands to cease and desist, gives rise to a claim for trespass to personal property.

A friend interested in law, legal theory, and possibly law school asked me for some recommendations for some good books (or articles, I suppose) that discuss private law systems, international law, the common law, etc.--with particular emphasis on explaining the common law’s or private law’s philosophical underpinnings.

Have you taken the virtual tour of the Mises Institute? This is where the summer fellows will research, write, and present papers, in what will likely be the most intellectually stimulating experience of their academic lives.

As opponent of all forms of censorship, I still do not believe that there is good reason to join the hate campaign against Google for complying with the Chinese government’s restrictions on what Google’s search engines can call up. Yes, all information should be available to all people. But given the choice, it is better to have tons of information than no information, and better trade than war.

The story named above appears in today’s New York Times.