Digital Technology: Computing Legislation and Copyright

Flashcards covering key concepts of copyright law, intellectual property, and software licensing from Digital Technology lecture notes.

What does the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 protect?

It protects intellectual property, including software, books, publications, music, and films.

What are typical breaches of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988?

Breaches include software piracy and software licensing infringements.

What is Intellectual Property?

Creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, images used in commerce, and software.

What is a Single-user licence?

A licence that allows the software to be used only on one computer or device.

What is a Multi-user licence?

A licence that permits the software to be used on an agreed number of computers or devices.

What is a Site licence?

A licence that allows any number of computers to use the software at a single location, typically used in education and offices.

What is a Concurrent user licence?

A licence that allows the software to be operated on an agreed number of computers/devices at the same time.

What is the difference between Freeware and Shareware?

Freeware allows free use and distribution without a sale, while Shareware allows free use for a limited time, after which a fee must be paid.

What is Proprietary Software?

Software that is copyright protected, limiting its use, distribution, and modification.

What is Open Source Software?

Software with its source code made available for editing and redistribution, often allowing users to modify and share it.

What is Software piracy?

The illegal copying, distribution, or use of software.

What are some measures publishers take to prevent software piracy?

Using protected software, relying on the law, applying copy protection, using a dongle, encrypting software, and utilizing credits.

What are copyright infringements?

Acts such as copying, issuing, renting, performing, broadcasting a work without permission.

What constitutes deliberate copyright infringement?

Deliberate infringement of copyright on a commercial scale may be a criminal offence.