Christopher E- As Applied Ict 06/07

The homework from Phillip was to find, type and publish the aims & penalties of each act along with three other examples.

Computer Misuse Act 1990:

Aim: An Act to make provision for securing computer material against unauthorised access or modification; and for connected purposes.

Penalty:A person guilty of an offence under this act shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.(£5000)

Example:

(1)Any act which causes an unauthorised modification of the contents of any computer;

(2)To impair the operation of any computer;

(3) To impair the operation of any such program or the reliability of any such data.

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

Aim:It gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works the right to control the ways in which their material may be used. The rights cover: Broadcast and public performance, copying, adapting, issuing, renting and lending copies to the public. In many cases, the creator will also have the right to be identified as the author and to object to distortions of his work.

Penalty:2 year imprisonment and a fine

Example:

(1)Using software under the terms of the liscence

(2)Illegal copy or distribution of product unless strictly for back-up purposes, under the terms of the liscence.

(3) Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical … for the purposes of research for a non-commercial purpose does not infringe any copyright in the work provided it is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement.