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?