Data Protection and Consumer Law
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course uses a "law and economics" approach, meaning that the economic efficiency of legal rules is discussed. The objective is to provide the student with specific knowledge about the rules that characterize the relationship between businesses/professionals, on the one hand, and consumers/end customers, on the other, both with reference to contractual protection instruments and with regard to non-contractual protection. The foregoing also taking into consideration new trends in business and product development and data protection, including new technologies, which pose new issues and needs for user protection.
Expected learning outcomes
Students are expected to become familiar with a general framework of the main institutions and concepts of contract law. They should also learn the main topics in the regulation of data protection and consumer protection.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The basis of the course is Private Law. So, first of all, we have to learn the fundamental concepts
of Private Law. This is the branch of law which regulates relationships between individuals.
Then we will have time (and the required instruments) to understand the more current and
relevant aspects: business-customer relations; consumer protection; artificial intelligence;
producer liability; data protection We will have to deal with these issues in the second part of
the course.
List of the topics:
FIRST PART:
1 Introduction to Private Law;
2 Basic Legal Concepts;
3 Sources of Law;
4 Natural Persons;
5 Legal Persons;
6-7 Property and Rights in Rem;
8 Obligations;
9 Contracts;
10 Invalidity of Contracts;
11 Termination of Contracts.
SECOND PART:
12 Non-Contractual Liability;
13 Comparison of Liabilities;
14 Other Sources of Obligation;
15 Consumer Protection;
16 AI ACT;
17 Producer Liability;
18 Data Protection and GDPR.
of Private Law. This is the branch of law which regulates relationships between individuals.
Then we will have time (and the required instruments) to understand the more current and
relevant aspects: business-customer relations; consumer protection; artificial intelligence;
producer liability; data protection We will have to deal with these issues in the second part of
the course.
List of the topics:
FIRST PART:
1 Introduction to Private Law;
2 Basic Legal Concepts;
3 Sources of Law;
4 Natural Persons;
5 Legal Persons;
6-7 Property and Rights in Rem;
8 Obligations;
9 Contracts;
10 Invalidity of Contracts;
11 Termination of Contracts.
SECOND PART:
12 Non-Contractual Liability;
13 Comparison of Liabilities;
14 Other Sources of Obligation;
15 Consumer Protection;
16 AI ACT;
17 Producer Liability;
18 Data Protection and GDPR.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no prerequisites required, other than a good knowledge and command of the English
language.
language.
Teaching methods
The course is structured in lectures. During the lectures the professor presents the topics
covered in the program with the help of slides, which are made available to students on the
MyAriel website dedicated to the subject.
covered in the program with the help of slides, which are made available to students on the
MyAriel website dedicated to the subject.
Teaching Resources
We use slides and PPT presentations, provided from time to time. The slides are made available
to all students through the MyAriel website.
As a textbook we refer to the Handbook below, limited to the topics covered in the examination
program and described above.
G. Alpa - V. Zeno-Zencovich, Italian Private Law, Routledge-Cavendish, 2007.
Please note that the Handbook is available free of charge in electronic format from our Library
at the following web address:
https://unimi.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9910182325651060
31&context=L&vid=39UMI_INST:VU1&lang=it&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local
%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,alpa%20private%20law&oXset=
0
The second part of the course is not covered by the textbook, so we will rely on normative texts,
articles, excerpts from textbooks indicated from time to time. Relevant materials will be made
available to all students through the MyAriel website.
For articles of law and the Italian Civil Code translated into English, reference can be made to
A. Reali, Lectures on Italian Private Law, LIUC eBook, available in open access at the following
web address (PDF file): https://biblio.liuc.it/ebookliuc/978-88-908806-9-8.pdf or at the
following one (description page): https://arl.liuc.it/esploro/outputs/book/Lectures-on-Italianprivate-law/991000894505405126 (full text).
The textbook is useful, especially with reference to the first part of the program. Reading it as a
supplement to the slides is recommended. For non-attending students, however, studying the
book is mandatory.
to all students through the MyAriel website.
As a textbook we refer to the Handbook below, limited to the topics covered in the examination
program and described above.
G. Alpa - V. Zeno-Zencovich, Italian Private Law, Routledge-Cavendish, 2007.
Please note that the Handbook is available free of charge in electronic format from our Library
at the following web address:
https://unimi.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9910182325651060
31&context=L&vid=39UMI_INST:VU1&lang=it&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local
%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,alpa%20private%20law&oXset=
0
The second part of the course is not covered by the textbook, so we will rely on normative texts,
articles, excerpts from textbooks indicated from time to time. Relevant materials will be made
available to all students through the MyAriel website.
For articles of law and the Italian Civil Code translated into English, reference can be made to
A. Reali, Lectures on Italian Private Law, LIUC eBook, available in open access at the following
web address (PDF file): https://biblio.liuc.it/ebookliuc/978-88-908806-9-8.pdf or at the
following one (description page): https://arl.liuc.it/esploro/outputs/book/Lectures-on-Italianprivate-law/991000894505405126 (full text).
The textbook is useful, especially with reference to the first part of the program. Reading it as a
supplement to the slides is recommended. For non-attending students, however, studying the
book is mandatory.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written examination, with the specifications described below.
SUMMARY
For those who attend, a two-part examination mode will be planned, in order to divide the exam
program for your convenience.
Therefore a partial written test (PWT) will be held after the middle of the course (two/thirds). The
partial written test will cover the topics explained in class and will consist basically of a couple
of open questions.
The final written exam (FWE) will be a written examination as well: a few open-ended questions
on the whole program for those who have not attended the course. Alternatively one or two
open-ended questions on the second part for those who attended and have already passed the
PWT.
Finally, at the professor's discretion, an additional oral question may be provided to verify
actual preparation, especially in case of doubt about the grade or when the same appears
necessary, with respect to the individual student, to define more precisely the student's overall
grade.
For students who have attended, the final grade will be the average of the first test and the
second exam. Since the partial written test (PWT) focuses on a larger portion of the program,
the average between the written test and the final written exam (PWE) is weighted and the grade
for the PWT takes on more weight in the evaluation. If a student is not satisfied with the
evaluation of the first written test, he/she may choose to take the exam in its totality, just as
non-participating students do.
COMPLETE INFO FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS:
Attending students will have the option of taking an optional and partial written test (PWT) that
will take place once they have completed approximately 2/3 of the course lessons, on a date
that will be communicated during the first weeks of class. The test will cover the entire program
indicated on this page that has been explained in class up to the lesson immediately preceding
the date of the partial written test and consists of one/two open-ended questions and
eventually some multiple-choice questions. Students will have a space for the answer defined
by the professor for each question. Students will thus have to demonstrate that they are able
to understand the question and to articulate the answer in a complete and clear way by
providing information compatible with the space that the teacher has predetermined for the
answer. To take the partial written test (PWT), it is not necessary to register and it is therefore
suXicient to show up on the indicated day with your identity card. The written test is aimed at
verifying the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and comprehension skills; to
ascertain specific language and the ability to present the topics in a clear and orderly manner.
The partial written test (PWT) will give a grade out of thirtieths. This evaluation will then be
averaged with the grade obtained in final written exam (FWE) on the remaining part of the
program (better described below). The written exam therefore does not necessarily determine
an increase in score, but a grade out of thirtieths on which to calculate the average with that
received in the written test. Since the partial written test (PWT) focuses on a larger portion of
the program, the average between the written test and the final written exam (PWE) is weighted
and the grade for the PWT takes on more weight in the evaluation.
For attending students who have taken and passed the partial written test (PWT), the final
written exam (FWE) -to be taken in one of the scheduled exam sessions - will consist of one/two
questions covering the topics of the residual lessons and those following the date of the partial
written test or in any case of the residual program indicated in this guide. For students who have
not taken and/or passed the partial written test (PWT), the final written exam (FWE) will consist
of three/four questions covering the entire program indicated in this guide.
The exam will be aimed at verifying the knowledge acquired by the student and his/her ability
to understand the problems. The exam will also aim to verify the student's ability to apply the
knowledge acquired to the solution of practical problems that may arise in his/her future
working life.
In any case, whether the PWT was taken or not, to take the final written exam (FWE), it is
essential to be regularly registered to the date of the exam. Students who are not regularly
included in the list of registered students provided by the SIFA service will not be allowed to
take the exam. It is therefore advisable to verify that the registration carried out with electronic
tools has been regularly registered.
ATTENDANCE WILL BE CHECKED ON A RANDOM BASIS DURING THE LESSONS.
THE RESULT AND THE MARK OF THE PARTIAL WRITTEN TEST ARE VALID FOR ALL THE EXAM
SESSIONS OF THE YEAR. IT WILL THEREFORE BE POSSIBLE TO TAKE THE SECOND PART OF
THE EXAM IN ANY EXAM SESSION OF THE YEAR AND NOT NECESSARILY IN THE FIRST.
IN CASE OF DISSATISFACTION / FAILURE TO PASS THE PARTIAL WRITTEN TEXT, EVEN THOSE
ATTENDING THE COURSE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE FULL WRITTEN EXAM.
COMPLETE INFO FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
The final exam consists of a written test on the whole program indicated in this guide. Nonattending student are not admitted to the PWT and do the final written exam at the end of the
course. The exam will be aimed at verifying the knowledge acquired by the student and his/her
ability to understand problems. The exam will also tend to verify the student's ability to apply
the knowledge acquired to the solution of practical problems that could arise in his/her future
working life. The written exam will also verify the ability to formulate independent judgments
and the ability to communicate the acquired notions with appropriate terminology and with
logical rigor. To take the written exam it is essential to be regularly registered and students who
are not regularly included in the list of registered students provided by the SIFA service will not
be allowed to take the exam. It is therefore advisable to verify that the registration carried out
with electronic tools has been regularly registered. The written exam covers all the topics
covered in the program. It is necessary to study the textbook limited to the chapters in the
program. It is also suggested to refer to the slides used as a teaching tool in class and published
on MyAriel.
SUMMARY
For those who attend, a two-part examination mode will be planned, in order to divide the exam
program for your convenience.
Therefore a partial written test (PWT) will be held after the middle of the course (two/thirds). The
partial written test will cover the topics explained in class and will consist basically of a couple
of open questions.
The final written exam (FWE) will be a written examination as well: a few open-ended questions
on the whole program for those who have not attended the course. Alternatively one or two
open-ended questions on the second part for those who attended and have already passed the
PWT.
Finally, at the professor's discretion, an additional oral question may be provided to verify
actual preparation, especially in case of doubt about the grade or when the same appears
necessary, with respect to the individual student, to define more precisely the student's overall
grade.
For students who have attended, the final grade will be the average of the first test and the
second exam. Since the partial written test (PWT) focuses on a larger portion of the program,
the average between the written test and the final written exam (PWE) is weighted and the grade
for the PWT takes on more weight in the evaluation. If a student is not satisfied with the
evaluation of the first written test, he/she may choose to take the exam in its totality, just as
non-participating students do.
COMPLETE INFO FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS:
Attending students will have the option of taking an optional and partial written test (PWT) that
will take place once they have completed approximately 2/3 of the course lessons, on a date
that will be communicated during the first weeks of class. The test will cover the entire program
indicated on this page that has been explained in class up to the lesson immediately preceding
the date of the partial written test and consists of one/two open-ended questions and
eventually some multiple-choice questions. Students will have a space for the answer defined
by the professor for each question. Students will thus have to demonstrate that they are able
to understand the question and to articulate the answer in a complete and clear way by
providing information compatible with the space that the teacher has predetermined for the
answer. To take the partial written test (PWT), it is not necessary to register and it is therefore
suXicient to show up on the indicated day with your identity card. The written test is aimed at
verifying the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and comprehension skills; to
ascertain specific language and the ability to present the topics in a clear and orderly manner.
The partial written test (PWT) will give a grade out of thirtieths. This evaluation will then be
averaged with the grade obtained in final written exam (FWE) on the remaining part of the
program (better described below). The written exam therefore does not necessarily determine
an increase in score, but a grade out of thirtieths on which to calculate the average with that
received in the written test. Since the partial written test (PWT) focuses on a larger portion of
the program, the average between the written test and the final written exam (PWE) is weighted
and the grade for the PWT takes on more weight in the evaluation.
For attending students who have taken and passed the partial written test (PWT), the final
written exam (FWE) -to be taken in one of the scheduled exam sessions - will consist of one/two
questions covering the topics of the residual lessons and those following the date of the partial
written test or in any case of the residual program indicated in this guide. For students who have
not taken and/or passed the partial written test (PWT), the final written exam (FWE) will consist
of three/four questions covering the entire program indicated in this guide.
The exam will be aimed at verifying the knowledge acquired by the student and his/her ability
to understand the problems. The exam will also aim to verify the student's ability to apply the
knowledge acquired to the solution of practical problems that may arise in his/her future
working life.
In any case, whether the PWT was taken or not, to take the final written exam (FWE), it is
essential to be regularly registered to the date of the exam. Students who are not regularly
included in the list of registered students provided by the SIFA service will not be allowed to
take the exam. It is therefore advisable to verify that the registration carried out with electronic
tools has been regularly registered.
ATTENDANCE WILL BE CHECKED ON A RANDOM BASIS DURING THE LESSONS.
THE RESULT AND THE MARK OF THE PARTIAL WRITTEN TEST ARE VALID FOR ALL THE EXAM
SESSIONS OF THE YEAR. IT WILL THEREFORE BE POSSIBLE TO TAKE THE SECOND PART OF
THE EXAM IN ANY EXAM SESSION OF THE YEAR AND NOT NECESSARILY IN THE FIRST.
IN CASE OF DISSATISFACTION / FAILURE TO PASS THE PARTIAL WRITTEN TEXT, EVEN THOSE
ATTENDING THE COURSE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE FULL WRITTEN EXAM.
COMPLETE INFO FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
The final exam consists of a written test on the whole program indicated in this guide. Nonattending student are not admitted to the PWT and do the final written exam at the end of the
course. The exam will be aimed at verifying the knowledge acquired by the student and his/her
ability to understand problems. The exam will also tend to verify the student's ability to apply
the knowledge acquired to the solution of practical problems that could arise in his/her future
working life. The written exam will also verify the ability to formulate independent judgments
and the ability to communicate the acquired notions with appropriate terminology and with
logical rigor. To take the written exam it is essential to be regularly registered and students who
are not regularly included in the list of registered students provided by the SIFA service will not
be allowed to take the exam. It is therefore advisable to verify that the registration carried out
with electronic tools has been regularly registered. The written exam covers all the topics
covered in the program. It is necessary to study the textbook limited to the chapters in the
program. It is also suggested to refer to the slides used as a teaching tool in class and published
on MyAriel.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, 2.00 p.m.
Room n. 117