A great app, then a lawyer's letter
Sam builds a game with a song from a famous band. It has no age check and it asks for every player's home address. It lets players bet real money (risk money to win more).
Within a month Sam gets three letters from three different lawyers.
Developers must know the rules before they build. This lesson shows the main ones.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Law | A rule made by the government that everyone must follow. | the Data Protection Act |
| Regulation | A rule made by an official body, or an industry, to follow the law. | rules from the advertising regulator |
| Copyright | The right of the maker of a work, such as a song, to control copying. | a photo, a song or code |
| Patent | A right to stop others from making or using your new invention. | a new way a machine works |
| Licence | Permission, with rules, to use something that somebody else made. | a game music licence |
| Personal data | Facts about a real person, such as a name or an address. | home address |
| GDPR | The data protection law for personal data in the UK and Europe. | UK GDPR |
| Intellectual property | Things people create with their mind, which the law protects. | music, logos, code |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Eleven areas, with UK examples
| Area | Plain meaning | UK example |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual property and licences | Who owns what, and who may use it | Copyright law; a licence is the owner's rules for use |
| Copyright and patent | Copying is controlled; new inventions can be protected | Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; Patents Act 1977 |
| Consumer protection | Digital goods must work and be as described | Consumer Rights Act 2015 |
| Age ratings and classifications | Content must suit the age of the user | PEGI for games (an age label); BBFC for films (the UK film age label) |
| Advertising laws | Adverts must be honest and fair | The UK advertising codes, checked by the ASA (the group that watches adverts) |
| Data protection and privacy | Care for personal data | UK GDPR; Data Protection Act 2018 |
| Gambling legislation | Betting needs a licence and age checks | Gambling Act 2005 |
| Staff and employment | Fair treatment, safety and rights of workers | Employment Rights Act 1996; Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 |
| Territorial restrictions | Some content or sales are allowed in one country but not in another | Laws differ by country |
| System security | Attacking or misusing computers is a crime | Computer Misuse Act 1990 |
| Equality and diversity | No unfair treatment of groups of people | Equality Act 2010 |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Quick check
Have a go
Quick check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The rules follow the users
data-callouts.important.label
If your app is used in another country, that country's rules can apply. A film may be allowed in one country and banned in another. A shop may not be allowed to sell some goods. Check where your users are before you build.
Data protection: the main rules
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Fair and clear | Tell people what you collect and why |
| Only for the stated reason | Do not use the data for something else |
| Only what you need | Do not collect a date of birth if you do not need it |
| Accurate | Let people correct mistakes |
| Not kept too long | Delete data you no longer need |
| Kept safe | Protect it from loss and theft |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.