Coherence in technology law

Abstract

ABSTRACT Technology law is emerging as a distinct field of law among the canon of more established law subjects. This paper examines the requirements for coherence in law subjects and begins the process of classifying the field of technology law. It examines historical struggles for coherence in health law and environmental law in order to distil a methodology that will guide the analysis. The paper sets out a menu approach that refines some of the unifying principles of technology law that mark it out as a distinct field. The methodology is then tested against the ostensibly disparate papers that can all be said to be on ‘technology law’ in the Oxford Handbook on Law, Regulation and Technology. The paper concludes by directing further work to more fully classify this emerging field.