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This lesson covers intellectual property law and software licensing for the OCR A-Level Computer Science (H446) specification, section 1.5. You need to understand how intellectual property is protected and the different types of software licences.
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind -- inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. IP laws give creators rights over their creations, allowing them to control how they are used and to benefit from them.
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 is the UK's primary intellectual property legislation.
Copyright protects original works from being copied, distributed, or adapted without permission.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| What is protected | Literary works (including software code), music, art, films, broadcasts, databases. |
| Duration | Life of the creator + 70 years (literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works). |
| Automatic | Copyright exists automatically when a work is created -- no registration required. |
| Symbol | (c) -- but its use is not required for copyright to apply. |
| Owner | Usually the creator, unless the work was created as part of employment (then the employer owns it). |
| Action | Permitted? |
|---|---|
| Copying the work | No (without permission) |
| Distributing copies | No (without permission) |
| Making adaptations | No (without permission) |
| Performing, showing, or playing in public | No (without permission) |
| Making available online | No (without permission) |
Software source code and object code are protected by copyright as "literary works". This means:
Patents protect inventions -- new products or processes that provide a technical solution to a problem.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 20 years from the filing date. |
| Requirements | The invention must be new, involve an inventive step, and be capable of industrial application. |
| Registration | Must be applied for and granted (unlike copyright, which is automatic). |
| Software | In the UK/EU, software "as such" cannot be patented, but software that produces a technical effect may be. |
A software licence is a legal agreement that specifies how software can be used, modified, and distributed.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Source code | Not available to users. |
| Modification | Users cannot modify the software. |
| Distribution | Users cannot redistribute the software. |
| Cost | Usually requires purchase or subscription. |
| Examples | Microsoft Windows, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office. |
| Support | Usually includes official support and updates. |
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Source code | Freely available to everyone. |
| Modification | Users can modify and improve the code. |
| Distribution | Users can redistribute the software (with conditions depending on licence). |
| Cost | Usually free, but not always (freedom refers to liberty, not price). |
| Examples | Linux, Firefox, LibreOffice, Python, Android (AOSP). |
| Community | Often maintained by a community of developers. |
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