Please help me search for the major laws and regulations (federal and state) governing the electronic computer industry.
Answer
The library has a database that may help you get started with this topic — it’s called First Research, and it provides industry profiles. To access it, go to this guide page:
http://library.uhd.edu/content.php?pid=94969&sid=2822628 It is the second database listed under Industry Information.
When you get into First Research, click on the "Browse Industry Profiles" link. Choose Technology and Communications. Then if you’re actually talking about the manufacture of computers, select “Computer Manufacture.” If that’s not the sector you’re wanting, select the one you want. All the industry profiles, if you page down through them, will have sections on Business Challenges, Trends & Opportunities, and Executive Insight. Those might have an issue that relates to your topic.
But the most productive area is likely to be farther down, under “Call Preparation Questions.” There should be a section on “REGULATIONS, R&D, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.” Although this is very brief, it should give you some clues as to what the major issues might be. For example, under “Computer Manufacture,” it looks like patents, export controls, and environment issues from manufacturing could all be areas of interest.
Another approach you could take would be to take a company that is in your industry — for example, in computer manufacture, Dell is an example. Then you could look them up in a database called Marketline Advantage, which is also on that page I linked above, and there will be a “SWOT analysis” on the company. In Dell’s case, 2 legal issues are pointed out — compliance with financial reporting requirements and product defects and recalls.
Once you have a specific issue, you could research it further in a database called Business Source Complete, also linked on the guide I’ve referred you to. Then you could use specific topic words related to whatever the subjects you’ve chosen.
You can look up specific laws through two databases we have linked through our legal guide at http://library.uhd.edu/law. WestlawNext and LexisNexis Academic both have laws and cases that you can search when you have specific identifying information for the laws, which you would probably get by researching your topic.