Legal issues
Legal issues
Legal issues
Computer Misuse Act 1990
Deals with misuse of ICT systems
Legal issues
Computer Misuse Act 1990 makes it an offence to:
• Deliberately plant or transfer viruses• Use ICT equipment for unauthorized
work• Illegally copy computer programs• Hack into a computer system to view
or alter data• Use computers to commit fraud
Legal issues
Hacking• Deliberately attempting to or actually
gaining access to a computer system without permission. Hackers may:– Do nothing, be content with access gained– Look at personal or sensitive data– Use personal data for blackmail purposes– Cause damage to data– Alter data to commit fraud
Legal issues
Problems with prosecutions under the Act
• Need to prove intent, which is difficult
• Companies are reluctant to bring in the police owing to possible bad publicity and loss of business
• Damage has been done
Legal issues
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Makes it a criminal offence to:• Copy or distribute software or manuals
without permission or licence from the copyright owner
• Run more versions of software than the software licence allows
• Force employees to make or distribute software
Legal issues
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Covers– Software– Text in books, magazines etc..– Innovative Human user interfaces– Hardware– Books and manuals– Images on websites.
Legal issues
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
It is illegal to:– Copy software and music without permission– Copy images or text without permission– Copy sections of websites without permission– Sharing digital music illegally using peer-to-
peer software– Running more copies of software than is
allowed by the site licence.
Legal issues
Copyright issues
• Software is easy to copy• It is easy to transfer files from one
country to another over the Internet• Many people do not see copying
software as theft• Companies, artists losing out and will
not longer be profitable to produce new material.
Legal issues
Software piracy
Illegal copying of software or data• 27% of all software used in UK is pirated• Pirated software is sold at car boot sales,
computer fairs and on eBay• Pirated software deprives the owners of
software of billions of pounds in revenue• Where do these figures come from?
Legal issues
Problems with illegally copied software
• May contain viruses• No technical support available• Does not qualify for upgrades• May not be complete• Above all you are committing a crime
Legal issues
The industry fights back.• Choose either
Piracy1)Can you find any statistics?2)Can you comment on any case studies?3)Where does the money for pirated items go to?4)What is the industry doing to fight back?
Hacking1)Can you find any statistics?2)What prolific case have their been and what were the consequences3)What is the latest trends in Computer crime?4)What is the industry doing to fight back?
• In pairs – create a presentation on differences between Patent, Copyright and Design
• How much does a Patent cost?