ICT copyright
Copyright gives the creators of some types of media rights to control how they're used and distributed. Music, books, videos and software can all be covered by copyright law.
Copyright law
Limitations imposed by copyright
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 networkA group of interconnected computers/devices. (unless the licenceA legal agreement between the company that published the software and the end user covering areas such as copyright. allows it)
- renting the software without the permission of the copyright holder
Prevention of software piracy
Software companies take many steps to stop software piracyCan be used to describe robbery or criminal violence at sea or the illegal copying of recorded material.:
- An agreement between the company that developed the software and the user must be agreed before the software is installed. This is called the licence agreement and covers copyright.
- Certain pieces of software require a unique licence key to be entered before the installation will continue.
- Some applications or programSequences of instructions for a computer. will only run if the media (CDA plastic, circular disc used to store up to 700 MB of music, video or data. CDs are optical storage media, similar to DVDs and Blu-ray discs. / DVDA plastic, circular disc used to store music, video or data. DVDs are optical storage media, similar to CDs and Blu-ray discs.) is in the drive.
- Some applications or programs will only run if a special piece of hardwareThe physical parts of a computer system, eg a graphics card, hard disk drive or CD drive. called a dongleA small piece of hardware that connects to a computer, eg a USB memory stick. is plugged into the back of the computer.
The Federation Against Software Theft (FAST)
FAST was founded in 1984 by the softwareThe programs, applications and data in a computer system. Any parts of a computer system that aren't physical. industry and is now supported by over 1,200 companies. It is a not-for-profit organisation with an aim to prevent software piracy and has a policy of prosecuting anyone found to be breaching copyrightA set of rights that prevents people copying and distributing a piece of work without the copyright holder's permission. law.
FAST also works to educate the public about good software practice and legal requirements.