Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Core legislation protecting software as literary work, defining rights of copyright holders and duration of copyright protection. Essential for software licensing terms.
Consumer Rights Act 2015: Governs B2C relationships, specifically addressing digital content quality, fitness for purpose, and consumer protection provisions in software contracts.
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR: Regulates data processing requirements, data protection obligations, and cross-border data transfers in software operations.
Computer Misuse Act 1990: Addresses unauthorized access provisions and security considerations in software usage and licensing.
Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002: Sets requirements for electronic contracting and information provision obligations in digital transactions.
Contract Law Fundamentals: Basic principles including offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations applicable to software licensing.
Competition Law: Governs anti-competitive provisions and territory restrictions in software licensing agreements.
Trade Secrets Protection: Legal framework for protecting confidential information and trade secrets in software licensing.
Intellectual Property Rights: General IP protection framework beyond copyright, including patents and trademarks relevant to software.
Export Control Regulations: Rules governing international distribution and export of software products and technology.
Distance Selling Regulations: Regulations governing contracts made at a distance, particularly relevant for software sold online.
