Avoiding Copyright Infringement
|
Although copyright may seem to be a purely legal issue, using
unauthorized files could have security implications. To avoid
prosecution and minimize the risks to your computer, make sure you
have permission to use any copyrighted information, and only download
authorized files.
|
How does copyright infringement apply to the internet?
Copyright infringement occurs when you use or distribute information
without permission from the person or organization that owns the legal
rights to the information. Including an image or cartoon on your web
site or in a document, illegally downloading music, and pirating
software are all common copyright violations. While these activities
may seem harmless, they could have serious legal and security
implications.
How do you know if you have permission to use something?
If you find something on a web site that you'd like to use (e.g., a
document, a chart, an application), search for information about
permissions to use, download, redistribute, or reproduce. Most web
sites have a "terms of use" page that explains how you are allowed to
use information from the site (see US-CERT's terms of use
for an example). You can often find a link to this page in the site's
contact information or privacy policy, or at the bottom of the page
that contains the information you are interested in using.
There may be restrictions based on the purpose, method, and
audience. You may also have to adhere to specific conditions about how
much information you are allowed to use or how the information is
presented and attributed. Consider whether the individual or
organization that operates the web site has the legal authority to
give you permission to use the item—if they did not produce the
item, they can't give you permission to use it because they don't hold
the copyright. If you can't locate the terms of use, or if it seems
unclear, contact the individual or organization that holds the
copyright to ask permission.
What consequences could you face?
- Prosecution - When you illegally download, reproduce, or
distribute information, you risk legal action. Penalties may range
from warnings and mandatory removal of all references to costly
fines. Depending on the severity of the crime, jail time may also be a
possibility. To offset their own court costs and the money they feel
they lose because of pirated software, vendors may increase the prices
of their products.
- Malicious copies - Some users knowingly violate
copyright by using sites or networks that allow them to illegally
download music and movies or by making or installing unauthorized
copies of software applications. Attackers could take advantage of
these outlets by including code into a music or movie file or a
pirated copy of software that would infect your computer once it was
installed. Because you wouldn't know the source or identity of the
infection (or maybe that it was even there), you might not be able to
easily identify or remove it. Pirated software with hidden Trojan
horses (see Why is Cyber
Security a Problem? for more information) is often advertised as
discounted software in spam email messages (see Reducing Spam
for more information).
References
Author: Mindi McDowell
Copyright 2005 Carnegie Mellon University. Terms of use