Lieve Göbbels
Law and DS (JBL120/JBL125)
Semester 2, 2021-2022
Law and Data Science
Cluster 1: Introduction to Law and Data Science 2
Relevance of law with data science 2
Clarifying concepts 2
Legal argumentation and legal reasoning 4
International and European law and Lessig’s modalities of regulation 5
Cluster 2: Private law 7
Introduction to private law 7
Contract law 7
Property law 10
Tort law 12
Cluster 3: Intellectual Property Law 16
Introduction 16
Trade secrecy 16
Patent law 17
Copyright 17
Database rights 20
Cluster 4: Privacy and Data Protection (EU law) 21
Personal data 21
Key principles of European data protection law 22
Lawful grounds for processing data 24
Personal data breach noti cations 25
Data protection by design and by default 25
, Cluster 1: Introduction to Law and Data Science
In short:
• Relevance of law with data science
• Clarifying concepts
• Legal argumentation and legal reasoning
• International and European law and Lessig’s modalities of regulation
Relevance of law with data science
There is an interplay between data science and law, because data science itself is an interdisciplinary
eld that uses several tools to extract knowledge and insights from (un)structured data, which needs
to be governed and regulated using law. Examples of this interplay are (invisible) camera’s in
advertising columns on train stations that could identify personal characteristics of individuals
without them knowing; anonymous OV-chipcards that are more expensive (basically ‘buying
privacy’); the issue of ownership of (data of) the Internet of Things; using the data of a pacemaker in
criminal investigations; the Dutch coronavirus app. All these examples represent the ongoing
balancing between preserving privacy and using personal data for getting insights in di erent kinds
of processes. So, for a data scientist it is important to be aware of legal considerations that are
applicable to data science practices.
Clarifying concepts
Absolute right = right that can be exercised against all others (e.g. property right)
Relative right = right that can only be exercised against one or more determined
persons (e.g. loan)
Objective law/rights = the principles and foundations that exists independently of the
application of the principles
Subjective law/rights = refer to the application to the objective principles in a given
situation; they are relative rights (e.g. the limitation of free speech)
Purposes and functions
The law consists of norms regulating human behavior and rules that organize the state. These are
legal norms and di er from moral norms. Legal e ect follows legal norms and not moral norms. Law
and its legal e ect has a de nitive impact on the real world. Here, the scope of de nition is
important. Law is in general used for:
• establishing standards;
• maintaining order;
• resolving disputes;
• protecting liberties and rights.
Law and DS (JBL120/JBL125)
Semester 2, 2021-2022
Law and Data Science
Cluster 1: Introduction to Law and Data Science 2
Relevance of law with data science 2
Clarifying concepts 2
Legal argumentation and legal reasoning 4
International and European law and Lessig’s modalities of regulation 5
Cluster 2: Private law 7
Introduction to private law 7
Contract law 7
Property law 10
Tort law 12
Cluster 3: Intellectual Property Law 16
Introduction 16
Trade secrecy 16
Patent law 17
Copyright 17
Database rights 20
Cluster 4: Privacy and Data Protection (EU law) 21
Personal data 21
Key principles of European data protection law 22
Lawful grounds for processing data 24
Personal data breach noti cations 25
Data protection by design and by default 25
, Cluster 1: Introduction to Law and Data Science
In short:
• Relevance of law with data science
• Clarifying concepts
• Legal argumentation and legal reasoning
• International and European law and Lessig’s modalities of regulation
Relevance of law with data science
There is an interplay between data science and law, because data science itself is an interdisciplinary
eld that uses several tools to extract knowledge and insights from (un)structured data, which needs
to be governed and regulated using law. Examples of this interplay are (invisible) camera’s in
advertising columns on train stations that could identify personal characteristics of individuals
without them knowing; anonymous OV-chipcards that are more expensive (basically ‘buying
privacy’); the issue of ownership of (data of) the Internet of Things; using the data of a pacemaker in
criminal investigations; the Dutch coronavirus app. All these examples represent the ongoing
balancing between preserving privacy and using personal data for getting insights in di erent kinds
of processes. So, for a data scientist it is important to be aware of legal considerations that are
applicable to data science practices.
Clarifying concepts
Absolute right = right that can be exercised against all others (e.g. property right)
Relative right = right that can only be exercised against one or more determined
persons (e.g. loan)
Objective law/rights = the principles and foundations that exists independently of the
application of the principles
Subjective law/rights = refer to the application to the objective principles in a given
situation; they are relative rights (e.g. the limitation of free speech)
Purposes and functions
The law consists of norms regulating human behavior and rules that organize the state. These are
legal norms and di er from moral norms. Legal e ect follows legal norms and not moral norms. Law
and its legal e ect has a de nitive impact on the real world. Here, the scope of de nition is
important. Law is in general used for:
• establishing standards;
• maintaining order;
• resolving disputes;
• protecting liberties and rights.
