The Copyright Design & Patents Act 1988 (OCR A Level Computer Science)

The Copyright Designs & Patents Act 1988

What is the Copyright Designs & Patents Act?

• This protects the intellectual property of an individual or a company

• It makes it illegal to copy, modify or distribute software or other intellectual property without the relevant permission

• If original work is original, copyright will be automatically applied and will not expire until 25 - 70 years from the death of the creator depending on the type of work

• If an individual believes that their work has been copied it is their responsibility to take action under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act

• Many sites online offer free downloads of copyrighted software/videos which prevents the intellectual copyright holder from earning their income on the work they have created

  • E.g. If someone downloaded videos from Netflix and shared them with others, they would be breaching the act

• The act covers videos and audio where peer-to-peer streaming prevents a copyright owner from receiving an income

What is Prohibited Under the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act?

Primary Breaches:

• Copying an original work

• Issuing the copy of the original work to the public

• Renting/lending the copy of the original work to the public

• Performing, showing or playing the original work in public

• Making an adaptation of the original work

Secondary Breaches:

• Importing a copy of original work

• Possessing or dealing with a copy of the original work

• Providing means to make copies of the original work

• Permitting the use of premises for making copies of the original work

• Provision of props/equipment for a performance of a copy of the original work