Copyright Designs and Patents Act
Graiite Bhantuur
Basic Information
The law that governs copyright in the UK is called the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
When you buy software, for example, copyright law forbids you from:
-giving a copy to a friend
-making a copy and then selling it
-using the software on a network (unless the licence allows it)
-renting the software without the permission of the copyright holder
The legal penalties for copyright infringement are:
- Infringer pays the actual dollar amount of damages and profits.
- The law provides a range from $200 to $150,000 for each work infringed.
- Infringer pays for all attorneys fees and court costs.
- The Court can issue an injunction to stop the infringing acts.
- The Court can impound the illegal works.
- The infringer can go to jail.
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988)