1. Legal and ethical issues
The Computer Misuse Act 1990 and copyright issues

2. The Computer Misuse Act 1990
Deals with misuses of ICT systems

3. Computer Misuse Act 1990 Makes it an offence to:
deliberately plant or transfer viruses
use ICT equipment for unauthorized work
illegally copy computer programs
hack into a computer system to view or alter data
use computers to commit fraud

4. Problems with prosecutions under the Act
Need to prove intent, which is difficult.
Companies are reluctant to bring in the police owing to possible bad publicity and loss of business.

5. Copyright issues Software is easy to copy.
It is easy to transfer files from one country to another over the Internet.
Many people do not see copying software as theft.

6. Software piracy Illegal copying of software or data:
27% of all software used in UK is pirated.
Pirated software is sold at car boot sales, computer fairs and on eBay.
Pirated software deprives the owners of software of billions of pounds in revenue.

7. Problems with illegally copied software
It may contain viruses.
No technical support is available.
It does not qualify for upgrades.
Software may not be complete.
Above all you are committing a crime.

8. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Makes it a criminal offence to:
copy or distribute software or manuals without permission or licence from the copyright owner
run more versions of software than the software licence allows
force employees to make or distribute software