The Call for papers can be downloaded here or read in the viewer at the bottom of this page.

 

This Call concerns issue 1/2024, to be published at the end of March 2024. Deadline:  30 July 2023.

 

LAW, MARKET & INNOVATION OPEN CALL FOR PAPERS

The JLMI welcomes submissions on any of its areas of interest (for details,  see https://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/JLMI/about).

THEMATIC CALL FOR PAPERS

Digital Trade

This thematic Call for Papers of issue 1/2024 is devoted to digital trade.

The concept refers to the (international) exchange of goods, services, software, technologies, and information through electronic means over the internet or other digital networks. It involves the import and export operations, buying, selling, and delivery of products and services using digital technologies, such as computers, mobile devices, and online platforms.

In digital trade, traditional barriers like distance and time are reduced or eliminated, allowing businesses and consumers to engage in transactions globally with ease. It encompasses various forms of electronic commerce (e-commerce), including online retailing, business-to-business (B2B) transactions, and digital services like software development, online advertising, and cloud computing.

Digital trade often occurs through online platforms that facilitate the connection between buyers and sellers, such as e-commerce marketplaces, social media platforms, and app stores. These platforms provide a virtual marketplace for conducting transactions and enable businesses of all sizes to reach a global customer base.

Digital trade may also trigger the application of export controls on the transmission of software or technology by electronic media or any other electronic means to a destination outside a customs territory. To prevent the uncontrolled outflow of critical technology, businesses and research organizations are faced with the challenge of taking appropriate organizational measures to ensure that (i) dual-use technology is appropriately identified and protected within the company and the institution, (ii) effective internal compliance programs to identify, manage and mitigate risks associated with multiple dual-use export control legislations are adopted, (iii) their contract include provisions identifying liabilities and duties of compliance with national and multinational export control, sanction regulations, including embargoes, and, finally, (iv) such technologies are not transferred outside the jurisdiction without prior authorization (licence).

At the same time however, the recent interaction between export controls law related to dual use goods with economic sanctions law (see for instance the EU example in Russia sanctions matters) recompiling partially the dual use regulatory framework within the economic sanctions setting has rendered the area of law at issue even more sensitive and difficult to interpret. Compliance concerning the exchange of digital products touched by the above is therefore becoming a real challenge that needs creative solutions.

The suggested topic opens many interdisciplinary, comparative, and empirically measurable research questions that the authors can address in their submissions.

Topics of Interest

We welcome submissions on a wide range of topics related to international trade, competition law, and innovation, including but not limited to:

1. Global Trade Governance and Digital Trade

• Examination of WTO agreements and their relevance to digital trade
• Analysis of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and its application to digital services
• Implications of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
• Rights (TRIPS) for digital trade and innovation
•  Digital Trade and Competition Law

2. E-commerce and Digital Trade

• Analysis of WTO initiatives and agreements related to e-commerce
• Cross-border data flows and digital trade facilitation
• Regulatory challenges and policy considerations for enhancing e-commerce (WTO, UNCITRAL)
• Contract automation (UNCITRAL)
• Conflict of Laws
• Consumer welfare

3. Digital Assets

• Unidroit Project
• Comparative Perspectives
• Digital Assets & Property Laws
• Contractual Issues, Control and Custody
• Digital Assets and IP Law
• Conflict of Laws

4. Data Governance and Privacy

• WTO perspectives on data governance and data protection in digital trade
• Privacy considerations in cross-border data flows and WTO rules
• Intersection of trade rules and data protection regulations in the digital economy
• Cybersecurity
• GDPR, data protection

5. Impacts of digital trade on the SDGs and inclusivity

• Digital trade and SDGs
• Climate change and digital trade
• Challenges and opportunities for developing countries in leveraging digital trade for growth

6. Impact of EU and US export control regimes for technology transfer and technical assistance

• Dual-Use Regulation (EU) n. 2021/821
• EU Commission Recommendation n. 2021/1700
• The US Export Administration Act
• Other national and international sanctions, anti-money laundering and embargo regulations
• EU embargo and sanctions regulations mirroring but not always precisely certain other export controls laws like dual use matters

The authors are invited to address questions and issues arising from the specific area of law relating to their topic. All types of legal approaches will be considered for publication. However, please note that any analysis solely limited to a national legal system will fall outside the scope of the Journal. An international, supranational or transnational legal dimension is imperative. The Board of Editors will select articles based on quality of research and writing, diversity, and relevance of topic. The novelty of the academic contribution is also an essential requirement.

Prospective articles should be submitted in the form of abstract (around 800 words) or draft articles (see below) to submissions.jlmi@iuse.it by 30 July 2023. Accepted authors will be notified by 15 August 2023.

Final articles shall be delivered by 15 November 2023 and should conform to the journal style guide that is based on OSCOLA.

Typically, the JLMI accepts contributions within the range of 10.000 to 15.000 words, including footnotes, but both shorter and longer articles will be considered. submitted articles will undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process. For further information, or for consultation on a potential submission, you can contact us by email at editors.jlmi@iuse.it.