title: Using the criminal law computer misuse provisions to protect confidential information

authors: Kingsbury, Anna

abstract: This article is about the criminal law provisions relating to crimes involving computers, and the risks these provisions may pose to people dealing with confidential information in the nature of a trade secret, as illustrated by recent cases.
There is a growing international trend toward use of the criminal law to protect confidential information and trade secrets. A growing number of jurisdictions have criminal provisions applying in some form to the taking of trade secrets. United States law has included such criminal provisions for some years. New Zealand law has also had provisions since 2003, and requirements for such provisions are being included in trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partner-ship Agreement (TPPA). The primary justification for criminalisation is generally concern about foreign hackers, but inevitably employees and ex-employees are among the likely defendants.
There has not yet been a lot of case law involving the taking of confidential information under the New Zealand provisions, but there have been two significant recent cases. This article reviews the recent New Zealand cases and considers the implications for employees and others dealing with confidential information. It is arguable that the availability of the criminal law in these cases creates excessive risks for individual employees and more broadly for employee mobility and the sharing of information, perhaps most troublingly in knowledge-based industries.

text: Using the criminal law computer misuse provisions to protect confidential information This article is about the criminal law provisions relating to crimes involving computers, and the risks these provisions may pose to people dealing with confidential information in the nature of a trade secret, as illustrated by recent cases.
There is a growing international trend toward use of the criminal law to protect confidential information and trade secrets. A growing number of jurisdictions have criminal provisions applying in some form to the taking of trade secrets. United States law has included such criminal provisions for some years. New Zealand law has also had provisions since 2003, and requirements for such provisions are being included in trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partner-ship Agreement (TPPA). The primary justification for criminalisation is generally concern about foreign hackers, but inevitably employees and ex-employees are among the likely defendants.
There has not yet been a lot of case law involving the taking of confidential information under the New Zealand provisions, but there have been two significant recent cases. This article reviews the recent New Zealand cases and considers the implications for employees and others dealing with confidential information. It is arguable that the availability of the criminal law in these cases creates excessive risks for individual employees and more broadly for employee mobility and the sharing of information, perhaps most troublingly in knowledge-based industries.

year: 2016

title: On the use of observation equivalence in synthesis abstraction

authors: Mohajerani, Sahar

subjects: computer science

abstract: In a previous paper we introduced the notion of synthesis abstraction, which allows efficient compositional synthesis of maximally permissive supervisors for large-scale systems of composed finite-state automata. In the current paper, observation equivalence is studied in relation to synthesis abstraction. It is shown that general observation equivalence is not useful for synthesis abstraction. Instead, we introduce additional conditions strengthening observation equivalence, so that it can be used with the compositional synthesis method. The paper concludes with an example showing the suitability of these relations to achieve substantial state reduction while computing a modular supervisor.

text: On the use of observation equivalence in synthesis abstraction In a previous paper we introduced the notion of synthesis abstraction, which allows efficient compositional synthesis of maximally permissive supervisors for large-scale systems of composed finite-state automata. In the current paper, observation equivalence is studied in relation to synthesis abstraction. It is shown that general observation equivalence is not useful for synthesis abstraction. Instead, we introduce additional conditions strengthening observation equivalence, so that it can be used with the compositional synthesis method. The paper concludes with an example showing the suitability of these relations to achieve substantial state reduction while computing a modular supervisor.

year: 2011

title: Hau

authors: Lodge, Martin

subjects: music

abstract: The article presents reflections on some issues encountered when combining traditional Maori and Western concert music. These issues include tradition and repertoire versus innovation, control versus freedom, collaboration versus appropriation, and the overlapping roles of creator and performer. Focal to the article is "Hau," a Maori word meaning breath or wind. The author also presents a comparison of Western music with traditional Maori instrumental music.

text: Hau The article presents reflections on some issues encountered when combining traditional Maori and Western concert music. These issues include tradition and repertoire versus innovation, control versus freedom, collaboration versus appropriation, and the overlapping roles of creator and performer. Focal to the article is "Hau," a Maori word meaning breath or wind. The author also presents a comparison of Western music with traditional Maori instrumental music.

year: 2007