4.+Copyright+and+the+Law

In general: if a copy is made of part of or all of a work protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner it is a breach of copyright(source.1.). - If you allow or help someone to break copyright laws (source.3.) - To make or own pirated copies of movies, games, etc (source.3.). - To make a copy of a software program and sell it. (source.4.) - According to dictionary.com, shareware is-"computer software distributed without initial charge but for which the user is encouraged to pay a nominal fee to cover support for continued use." It can also be passed on to other people. (source.5.) - This is cheaper than commercial software packages as the author of a shareware product only charges a small fee in return for feedback on their product. Also some authors may only have an honesty fee, in which case some people might not even pay anything. People can also pass these shareware products on to their friends and other people, free of charge, so sometimes people may not have to pay at all. (partly source.5.) - **Describe the technology developed by one Australian company to reduce software piracy.** - Do you think it is right to copy software without the permission of the author? Justify your answer.** I don't think it is right to copy software without the permission of the author. The author has put their time, effort and ideas into creating this product for people. They deserve to get paid and recognised for what they have made. If people copy the software without the authors permission than they haven't acknowledged all the hard work that has gone into it. They haven't given the author the recognition that they deserve. Also they can do any number of things after they copy it. They can sell it to make money out of it. They are then gaining the money that the author of the product should get. They might try to pass it off as something that they have created. The author then loses the credit for all the work that they have done and the ideas that they have come up with. - **What are the exceptions to the law? -** It isn't against the law to buy pirated DVD's, only to play, sell or share it, (source.9.). - It isn't against the law to copy of material into a form of storage. (source.9.) - Reviewers and students can use copyright material without persission, if they use it fairly. (source.3.) - There are exceptions for libraries, educational institues and government bodies to use copyright material. However sometimes a fee may have to be paid.(source.3.) - You are allowed to use 10% of a work for research or study purposes. (source.10.) - There are exceptions to copyright for educational purposes, (source.1.)
 * -- List THREE ways of committing a crime under Australia's //Copyright Act//.**
 * - E xplain why shareware is cheaper than commercial software packages.**
 * - Why is copyright a major problem to multimedia publishers?
 * - What are the legal issues surrounding software and the internet? In particular, look at sites from which software may be downloaded eg. and list the types of software available on such sites. Search for the Australian Copyright Council's site and see what you can discover about the rights of software designers when their software is made available on the Internet.**