Legal and Ethical Issues

The main legal issue I may encounter is copyright issues. Copyright infringement most often occurs to software, film and music is often taken out by large business' which do not want their concepts and ideas used by other people. Copyrights can cover anything from images, colours or layouts within a website. If someone uses an idea that is copyrighted they can be taken to court. I also have to take into account the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), which is a law that states websites have to meet a certain standard in terms of accessibility. The guidelines are regarded as a standard within many companies and having poor accessibility within a business may mean that it prevents people with disabilities from viewing its content. This is therefore considered discrimination. Software Piracy is an illegal action within computer software, film and music and is the illegal copying, distribution, or use of software. Types of software piracy include:

• Softlifting: Borrowing and installing a copy of a software application from a colleague.

• Client-server overuse: Installing more copies of the software than you have licenses for.

• Hard-disk loading: Installing and selling unauthorized copies of software on refurbished or new computers.

• Counterfeiting: Duplicating and selling copyrighted programs.

• Online piracy: Involves downloading illegal software from peer-to-peer network, Internet auction or blog.