Foreword

• Author: James L. Horvath; David W. Chodikoff
• Pages: 9-10

ix

Foreword

Technology and taxation are inescapable facts of life. And their interdepend-

ence in the legal realm has never been more ev ident than in the informa-

tion age. The recent — and increasingly rapid — developments in technology

have compelled the law of taxation to keep pace; at t he same time, tax law

has become an important instr ument for encouraging research in technol-

ogy and shaping its direction.

For those concerned with either endeavour, this remarkable volume pro-

vides timely assistance and authoritative guidance. It serves those who must

determine, as matters of social policy, how best to tax or to value new types

of enterprises and how to design legislative initiatives, such as research

and development credits, that will most effectively encourage investment

in cr itical sectors of the economy. And it serves practitioners in the f‌ield.

For their clients, the potential tax implications of a contemplated business

transaction are a prime consideration — if not its driving force.

Rapid technological development has important repercussions through-

out the tax system. The breadth of that impact is ref‌lected in the wide range

of issues examined in this book. They include t he taxation of electronic

commerce and online gambling, the valuation of new technologies, and the

impact of technological progress on the legal process in general and litiga-

tion in particula r.

In t his last regard, the transformative ef fects of new tec hnologies a re

striking ly evident in the Supreme Court of Canada. At its hearings t his

year, justices, counsel, and clerks will have computer access at their f‌inger-

tips and documents will soon be available electronically, eliminating the

need to search through stacks of books for immediate access to case materi-