Information Law and Legal Informatics

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The section deals with various questions within the context of information law and legal informatics. Emphasis is placed on issues that are linked to criminal law.

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Information Law and Legal Informatics

Information can be transmitted globally in fractions of a second. Modern data processing technology and its speed enable people to commit and to coordinate crimes from anywhere on the globe, either within the same country, from other continents, or even worldwide. Border controls that traditionally help to check people and goods that pass national boundaries is not available in the world of digital data. Therefore, alternative possibilities for control and prosecution have to be found. This task cannot be managed, however, by individual states alone. Instead, the cooperation of all nations is needed to find successful solutions.

In the 21st century, transnational and international crimes are some of the biggest challenges to international (criminal) law. Therefore, it is not sufficient to conduct individual research projects in this context. Instead, in 2004, the decision was made at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law to establish a separate research section that continuously monitors the areas of information law and legal informatics.


The area of information law is not clearly definable. Rather, information law is a cross-section of different legal areas that all deal with the term, content, and meaning of information in law. Information law must therefore be seen in a wider context than that of mere “computer law” or “information technology law”, both of which take technology as a starting point. In fact, the origin of information law is the immaterial good “information” – as a reference point for legal interests. The latter can refer to areas in public law (e.g., freedom of information, freedom of opinion, or data protection), civil norms (e.g., e-commerce), or even provisions in criminal law. Relevant criminal acts are often characterized by a relation to data and information in computer systems (computer crime) and international data networks (cybercrime).


While information law focuses on the legal aspects, the area of legal informatics especially covers computer applications for law. Common examples are programs for the calculation of complicated legal deadlines or alimony payments as well as software for the transfer of legal knowledge over the Internet (e-learning). According to the current interpretation of legal informatics, however, this discipline does not cover technical applications only. Instead, the legal issues that derive from its use are also considered part of legal informatics. Both information law and legal informatics therefore overlap and complement each other.


Research Focus

From the beginning, a focus of the section has been on the issue of cybercrime. This form of delinquency can be seen as an especially intensive way of committing transnational crimes where the input of data in one country can have catastrophic effects in another country. The ease of use and the relative “success” attract criminal offenders who deliberately exploit the legal and technical difficulties encountered in prosecution of such crimes, as well as groups that aim to bypass national control instruments in order to spread illegal content. Research in this area provides insight into different methods of perpetration as well as legal reactions (e.g., national so-called blocking orders against internationally available content in the Internet). So far, research has shown that – especially in the area of the Internet and similar worldwide networks – purely national approaches are doomed to failure. Alternatively, new possibilities for supra- and international cooperation have to be found.

Computer criminality and cybercrime are not only transnational, but also complex forms of crime. This can be seen, for example, when perpetrators use the Internet to coordinate crimes or to communicate covertly and anonymously among themselves. Additional risks arise from the increasing dependency of modern information society on technical systems. The legal regulation of these problems shows the functional borders of criminal law that lead – at least partly – to an erosion of protective measures. This can be observed, for example, in the introduction of new instruments to criminalize preparatory acts before the actual commitment of a crime, the international debate on covert surveillance, restrictions on anonymity and confidential communication as well as the increasing volume of data collection that will be exacerbated by the new mandatory cooperation duties of private bodies.


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Publications (selection):

  • Sieber, Ulrich: Teil 19.1 Allgemeine Probleme des Internetstrafrechts. In: Hoeren / Sieber (ed(s).): Handbuch Multimedia-Recht. Rechtsfragen des elektronischen Geschäftsverkehrs. München, 29. EL August 2011.
  • Sieber, Ulrich: Computerkriminalität. In: Sieber, U. / Brüner, F.-H. / Satzger, H. / von Heintschel-Heinegg, B. (ed(s).): Europäisches Strafrecht. Baden-Baden, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 2011, p. 393 - 421.
  • Sieber, Ulrich: Urheberstrafrecht. In: Sieber, U. / Brüner, F.-H. / Satzger, H. / von Heintschel-Heinegg, B. (Hrsg.): Europäisches Strafrecht. Baden-Baden, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 2011, S. 435 - 455.
  • Brunst, Phillip: Anmerkung zu BVerfG, Beschl. v. 16.06.2009 – 2 BvR 902/06 (Sicherstellung und Beschlagnahme von E-Mails auf dem Mailserver). In: CR, 2009, p. 591 - 593.
  • Gercke, Marco / Brunst, Phillip: Praxishandbuch Internetstrafrecht. Kohlhammer, 392 p., 2009.
  • Brunst, Phillip: Anonymität im Internet. Berlin, Duncker & Humblot, 619 p., 2009. In addition: Diss. (Univ. Erlangen). 
  • Brunst, Phillip: Terrorism and the Internet. In: Wade, Marianne / Maljevic, Almir (ed(s).): A War on Terror? The European Stance on a new threat, changing laws and human rights implications. New York, Springer, 2009, p. 51 - 78.
  • Brunst, Phillip: Legal Aspects of Cyber Terrorism. In: Centre of Excellence – Defence Against Terrorism (ed(s).): Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism. Amsterdam, IOS Press, NATO Science for Peace and Security Series, 2008, p. 63 - 76.
  • Brunst, Phillip: Use of the Internet by Terrorists – A Threat Analysis. In: Centre of Excellence – Defence Against Terrorism (ed(s).): Responses to Cyber Terrorism. Amsterdam, IOS Press, NATO Science for Peace and Security Series, 2008, p. 34 - 60.
  • Spoenle, Jan: Anmerkung zu LG Karlsruhe, Urteil vom 28.09.2007 - Ns 84 Js 5040/07 - 18 AK 136/07. In: Juris Praxisreport IT-Recht (jurisPR-ITR), Ausgabe 1/2008, Anmerkung 2.
  • Spoenle, Jan: Tagungsbericht: Heimlicher Zugriff auf Computerdaten im Rahmen strafrechtlicher Ermittlungen. In: Multimedia und Recht (MMR), 2007, issue/volume 12/10, p. XXXII.
  • Höfinger, Frank Michael / Sieber, Ulrich: Teil 18.1. Allgemeine Grundsätze der Haftung. In: Hoeren / Sieber (ed(s).): Handbuch Multimedia Recht. Rechtsfragen des elektronischen Geschäftsverkehrs. München, C. H. Beck, 18. EL Oktober 2007.
  • Spoenle, Jan: Anmerkung zu LG Konstanz, Beschluss vom 27.10.2006 - 4 Qs 92/06. In: Juris Praxisreport IT-Recht (jurisPR-ITR), Ausgabe 12/2007, Anmerkung 2.
  • Höfinger, Frank Michael / Gröseling, Nadine: Der strafbare Umgang mit "Hacker-Tools" auf dem Prüfstand. In: Multimedia und Recht (MMR), 2007, Issue⁄Volume 12, p. XXVII - XXX.
  • Gröseling, Nadine / Höfinger, Frank: Computersabotage und Vorfeldkriminalisierung – Auswirkungen des 41. StrÄndG zur Bekämpfung der Computerkriminalität. In: MMR, 2007, p. 626 - 630.
  • Gröseling, Nadine / Höfinger, Frank: Hacking und Computerspionage – Auswirkungen des 41. StrÄndG zur Bekämpfung der Computerkriminalität. In: MMR, 2007, p. 549 - 553.
  • Spoenle, Jan: Anmerkung zu AG Offenburg, Beschluss vom 20.07.2007 - 4 Gs 442/07. In: Juris Praxisreport IT-Recht (jurisPR-ITR), Ausgabe 8/2007, Anmerkung 6.
  • Burger, Benedikt: Second Life, Same Law? In: Taeger, Jürgen/Wiebe, Andreas (ed(s).): Aktuelle Entwicklungen im Informationstechnologierecht (Tagungsband DGRI-Herbstakademie 2007). Edewecht, OlWIR-Verlag, 2007, p. 65 - 78.
  • Nolde, Malaika / Schnabel, Christoph: Verfassungsrechtliche Grenzen der staatlichen Inhaltskontrolle im Internet. In: Taeger, Jürgen / Wiebe, Andreas (ed(s).): Aktuelle Entwicklungen im Informationstechnologierecht (Tagungsband DGRI-Herbstakademie 2007). Edewecht, OlWIR-Verlag, 2007, p. 285 - 300.
  • Ernst, Stefan / Spoenle, Jan: Weinversandhandel und Jugendschutz. In: Zeitschrift für Lebensmittelrecht (ZLR), issue 1/2007, p. 114 - 124.
  • Sieber, Ulrich / Brunst, Phillip: Cyberterrorism and Other Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes – Threat Analysis and Evaluation of International Conventions. In: Council of Europe (ed(s).): Cyberterrorism – the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. Strasbourg, Council of Europe Publishing, 2007, p. 9 - 105.
  • Sieber, Ulrich / Brunst, Phillip: Cyberterrorism and other use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. Threat analysis and evaluation of international conventions. Expert Report for the Council of Europe. CODEXTER (2007) 03 R, Strasbourg 2007.
  • Spoenle, Jan: Anmerkung zu OLG Karlsruhe, Beschluss vom 27.11.2006 - 3Ss 219/05. In: Juris Praxisreport IT-Recht (jurisPR-ITR), Ausgabe 1/2007, Anmerkung 7.
  • Sieber, Ulrich: Teil 1. Technische Grundlagen. In: Hoeren / Sieber (ed(s).): Handbuch Multimedia-Recht. Rechtsfragen des elektronischen Geschäftsverkehrs. München, 15. EL Juni 2006.
  • Sieber, Ulrich: Cybercrime and Jurisdiction in Germany. The Present Situation and the Need for New Solutions. In: Bert-Jaap Koops / Susan W. Brenner (ed(s).): Cybercrime and Jurisdiction. The Hague, T. M. C. Asser Press, 2006, p. 183 - 210.
  • Höfinger, Frank Michael / Bajon, Benjamin / Beger, Gabriele / Köcher, Jan K.: Stellungnahme zum Referentenentwurf für ein Zweites Gesetz zur Regelung des Urheberrechts in der Informationsgesellschaft vom 27.09.2004, Aktionsbündnis „Urheberrecht für Bildung und Wissenschaft“. In: Sieber, Ulrich / Hoeren, Thomas (ed(s).): Urheberrecht für Bildung und Wissenschaft (= Beiträge zur Hochschulpolitik 2/2005). Bonn, Hochschulrektorenkonferenz, 2005, p. 108 - 157.
  • Höfinger, Frank Michael / Sieber, Ulrich: Drittauskunftsansprüche nach § 101a UrhG gegen Internetprovider zur Verfolgung von Urheberrechtsverletzungen. In: Multimedia und Recht (MMR), 2004, p. 575 - 585.
  • Sieber, Ulrich: The threat of Cybercrime. In: Europarat (ed(s).): Organised crime in Europe: the threat of cybercrime. Strasbourg, Council of Europe Publishing, 2004, p. 81 - 231.
  • Brunst, Phillip: Umsetzungsprobleme der Impressumspflicht bei Webangeboten. In: Multimedia und Recht, 2004, p. 8 ff. 
  • Last update: 18 January 2012
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