Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Primary legislation governing software copyright protection. Software is protected as literary work, defining rights of copyright holders, duration of protection, and permitted acts/limitations.
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR: Legislation governing personal data processing, including data protection obligations, cross-border data transfers, and data security requirements relevant to software operations.
Consumer Rights Act 2015: Covers consumer protection aspects including statutory rights, remedies, unfair contract terms, and quality standards when licensing software to consumers.
Sale of Goods Act 1979 and Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982: Establishes quality requirements, fitness for purpose, and implied terms for goods and services, applicable to software licensing.
Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977: Regulates limitations on liability, reasonableness of terms, and exclusion clauses in contracts, including software licenses.
Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002: Governs electronic contracting, including information requirements and online contracting rules for digital agreements.
Competition Act 1998: Addresses anti-competitive practices, restrictive agreements, and market dominance considerations in software licensing.
Computer Misuse Act 1990: Covers unauthorized access, security requirements, and criminal offences related to computer systems and software.
Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003: Regulates electronic communications, including marketing rules and cookie requirements for software with communication features.
Export Control Act 2002: Controls international licensing, export restrictions, and technology transfer for software distributed across borders.
