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Copyright Designs and Patents Act
The Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1988) gives creators of digital media the rights to control how their work is used and distributed. Music, books, videos, games and software can all be covered by copyright law.
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Anything which you design or code is automatically copyrighted and may not be copied without your permission, as the digital creator.
When you buy software, for example, copyright law forbids you from:
- Giving a copy to a friend
- Making a copy and then selling it
- Using the software on a network (unless the licence you signed allows it. For example, you may be allowed to install an app on 3 devices within a family)
- Renting the software without the permission of the copyright holder
Some applications or programs will only run if a special piece of hardware is plugged into the computer or if a unique code is entered for that specific device.
The Federation Against Software Theft (FAST)
In 1984 a voluntary, not for profit, group FAST was set up by the computer/software industry. It aims to prevent software piracy and has a policy of prosecuting anyone found to be breaching copyright law.
FAST also works to educate the public about good software practice and legal requirements.
Software piracy
Software piracy is the illegal copying and sale of software products. This includes both professional criminals who make large numbers of copies of software and sell them illegally, and individual users who copy a friend's CD or use the internet to download and install software or digital media they haven't paid for.
Preventing software piracy
Software companies spend a lot of money developing applications and programs. They take many steps to help stop software piracy.
- An agreement between the software developer and the user must be agreed before the software is installed. This is called the license agreement. Any use prohibited by this agreement is illegal
- Certain pieces of software require a unique licence key to be entered before the installation will continue
- Some applications or programs will only run if the media (CD / DVD) is in the drive. Others require compulsory registration and may insist on being connected to the internet during registration or use – e.g., Microsfoft Office or the Amazon app store
Software licensing
When you purchase a piece of software, you don't actually own it. What you are buying is a licence to be able to use the software.