December 1, 2023
Dear Readers,
We are proud to present to you Issue One of the Thirtieth Volume of the Richmond Journal of Law and Technology. This first issue features four articles, each discussing a timely and engaging topic at the intersection of law and technology.
The first article is authored by Cheng-Chi (Kirin) Chang. Mr. Chang is a Law Research Assistant at Tsinghua University’s Institute for Studies on AI and Law and a third-year law student at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He holds an LL.M. from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and an LL.B. from National Chung Hsing University School of Law in Taiwan. Mr. Chang’s article discusses drone regulation in the US and EU, with a focus on privacy and property rights. By comparing regulatory frameworks, the article proposes solutions and emphasizes the need for a balanced approach and transparency in drone operations to protect privacy in low-altitude airspace.
The second article is authored by J. Merritt Francis. Mr. Francis is a Tax LL.M. student at the New York University School of Law. He became interested in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology during his time in law school, and after realizing the benefits blockchain technology provides, he wrote several blog posts discussing legal issues pertaining to blockchain technology. Mr. Francis sought to explain cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to the common person and wanted to explore how the United States taxes and regulates cryptocurrencies, as well as provide suggestions on how the United States should approach regulating and taxing the new technology. This article is a result of those efforts.
The third article is co-authored by Dr. Jason Davison and Hilary Buttrick. Dr. Jason Davidson is an Assistant Professor in the Lacy School of Business, where he teaches Data Analysis and Business Modeling, Business Intelligence, Data Network Engineering, and introductory management information system courses. He holds a B.A. with high honors in Telecommunication Arts from Butler University, an M.B.A. from Morehead State University, and a Ph.D. in Technology Management and Engineering from Indiana State University. Hilary Buttrick is the Associate Dean of Academics at Butler University’s Lacy School of Business. She is an Associate Professor of Business Law and regularly teaches courses in Business Law and Business Ethics. She graduated summa cum laude from DePauw University and obtained her J.D. summa cum laude from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. In their article, Dr. Davidson and Ms. Buttrick discuss the unique consumer protection issues presented by ChatGPT and other emerging generative AI tools. They examine these issues through the lens of the immunity shield of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act—does ChatGPT engage in content creation, or does it merely rearrange existing third-party content?
The final article is authored by Eunice Park. Professor Park teaches Torts and Privacy Law at Western State College of Law, and her scholarship addresses the tension between technology and privacy. This article urges that federal legislation is needed to provide privacy safeguards for reproductive health care data, proposing “three corners” of protection in the digital era. The Future of Privacy Forum awarded this article its 2023 Privacy Papers for Policymakers Award, which recognizes leading privacy scholarship relevant to policymakers in the U.S. Congress, at federal agencies, and international protection authorities. Professor Park also presented the ideas in her article at a briefing before the Federal Trade Commission.
The Thirtieth Volume is a momentous milestone for the Richmond Journal of Law and Technology, and we are grateful for our authors—past, present, and future—who remain committed to addressing these ever-relevant legal issues. Bringing these articles to publication would not be possible without our authors or the incredible JOLT staff and Editorial Board, whose work and work ethic never go unseen. I would like to extend a special thank you to Volume XXX’s exceptional Executive Board—Paige Skinner, Madison Edenfield, Joseph Patrell, and Sophie Deignan—for their organization, dedication, and levelheadedness as we navigated the inner workings of a law review. Finally, I would like to thank JOLT’s faculty advisors—Professors Christopher Cotropia and James Gibson—for their guidance and motivation throughout the process of completing our first issue.
On behalf of the entire JOLT team, we truly hope you enjoy Issue One, and we look forward to bringing more engaging articles in the New Year.
Sincerely,
Payton A. Miles
Editor-in-Chief, Volume XXX
ARTICLES
From Blue Skies to Gray Areas: Examining Privacy and Property Law in the Age of Drone Technology
by Cheng-chi Chang
by J. Merritt Francis
by Jason Davidson & Hilary G. Buttrick
by Eunice Park