Professional paper
Lost in a Cloud: Overview of Legal Obstacles to the Growth of Cloud Computing
Gregory Graham
; University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Abstract
Cloud computing has emerged as an exciting new opportunity for smaller and
mid-sized businesses to compete with larger companies. By increasing the utility
of a company’s computing ability without increasing maintenance cost, cloud
computing has also given rise to a new industry: the provision of cloud services.
The continued growth of an industry that is expected to be worth $216 billion
could be hampered by legal obstacles. While cloud computing presents novel
challenges to private international law, the single most obstructive issue facing
the industry today is the European Union’s policy towards data protection. Left
unchanged, this policy could slow the growth of cloud computing at a time when
IT industries need innovation. This piece provides an overview of what cloud computing
is, the problems it poses for private international law, and then addresses
the European Union’s method to data protection regulation within the cloud.
Keywords
Cloud Computing; Cloud Service Provider; IT Industry; EU
Hrčak ID:
99784
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2012.
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