Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/internetgiants
In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, understanding the intricate relationship between law, economics, and technology is more crucial than ever. Coursera’s “Internet Giants: The Law and Economics of Media Platforms” offers a deep dive into this complex ecosystem, exploring how major tech companies have shaped and been shaped by legal frameworks and economic principles.
This seven-week course, while noting its July 2015 launch date and lack of subsequent updates, provides a foundational understanding of the forces driving the internet economy. It meticulously examines the historical trajectories of key players like Microsoft and Google, tracing their rise to dominance and the antitrust challenges they have faced both in the United States and Europe. The syllabus delves into critical topics such as the development of the personal computer, the internet’s impact on established giants, and the emergence of new platforms like smartphones, highlighting the interplay of government policy, private collaboration, and individual innovation.
A significant portion of the course is dedicated to exploring the legal and economic implications of platform design and business models. Modules on “Nondiscrimination and Neutrality” tackle the critical issue of net neutrality and the open internet, while “The Day the Music Died?” and “Video: Listening and Watching” offer fascinating case studies on how media distribution has been revolutionized by digital technologies, from the phonograph to streaming services like Spotify and Netflix.
The course also addresses the burgeoning digital book market, detailing the legal battles surrounding Google Books, Amazon’s Kindle, and Apple’s iPad bookstore. Through these examples, it illustrates how innovation in content delivery often sparks significant legal and economic debates.
While the course’s age means it doesn’t cover the very latest developments in AI or the most recent regulatory shifts, its core content remains highly relevant. It equips learners with a robust framework for analyzing the ongoing evolution of internet platforms. The syllabus’s candid admission of its update status is commendable, encouraging learners to seek supplementary information for contemporary insights.
For anyone seeking to understand the legal and economic underpinnings of the digital age, particularly the strategies and challenges faced by dominant internet companies, “Internet Giants: The Law and Economics of Media Platforms” is a highly recommended starting point. It provides invaluable context for navigating the complex, ever-changing landscape of media and technology.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/internetgiants