Copyright Cambridge IGCSE Information & Communication Technology revision
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In plain words
Writing software takes years of work. Copying it takes seconds. Copyright law gives the people who made something the right to decide who may copy and use it.
5 things to know
- Copyright legislation protects the creators of original work, including computer software, so that they are paid for it and their work is not stolen.
- It is illegal to make copies of software and sell or give them away, to use software on more computers than the licence allows, to use a single-user copy on a network, or to copy the code and use it in other software.
- Software piracy is the illegal copying, distribution or use of software.
- Ways software producers protect their work: a product key or licence key that must be entered on installation; online activation; a dongle, a device that must be plugged in for the software to run; and a licence agreement the user must accept.
- Some software will only run with the original disc in the drive, or checks its licence over the internet each time it starts.
Worked example
A student buys one copy of a photo editor and installs it on five of her friends' computers. Has she broken copyright law?
- The licence she bought is for one user.
- Installing it on other people's computers is making illegal copies.
- Yes, this is software piracy.
Tips and tricks
- Describe the method of protection, do not just name it: "a product key, which must be typed in before the software will install".
- Copyright applies even if no money changes hands. Giving away copies is still illegal.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Copyright: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What is software piracy?
It breaks copyright law.
What is a product key?
Each legal copy has its own.
What is a dongle?
Without it the software will not start.
Which of these breaks copyright law?
Copies may not be given away or sold.
Why does copyright law exist?
They decide who may copy it.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
2 questions, 5 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Copyright
Cambridge IGCSE Information & Communication Technology 0417 · 5 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Explain why copyright legislation is needed for software.[2]
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To protect the people who created the software from having their work copied without permission. So that they are paid for their work.
Describe three methods software producers use to prevent software being copied illegally.[3]
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A product key that must be entered during installation. A dongle that must be plugged in for the software to run. Activation over the internet, which checks that the licence is valid.
Answers: Copyright
- 1. To protect the people who created the software from having their work copied without permission. So that they are paid for their work.
- 2. A product key that must be entered during installation. A dongle that must be plugged in for the software to run. Activation over the internet, which checks that the licence is valid.