Explain the legislation and legal implications of Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 in relation to using and editing graphical images.

A few ways that people can break this law whilst using graphical images are as follows;

• If an image is taken and then sold and or hired
• If the image is taken within the UK and is not intended for personal use.
• Also if someone takes a copyrighted graphical image and places it in public exhibiting it they are also breaking the law as they are not using it for their own personal use.

Explain the Digital Millennium Copyright Act 2000 in relation to using and editing graphical images.

Describe a situation when using a graphical image would be in breach of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act 2000.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act 2000

This Law is pretty much the U.S version of the Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988. Although it is much the same, it covers a far broader area of protected data. This law also gives the creator leverage over any one using or editing thier graphics. But whilst working with graphical images it is extremely strict on Dissemination which is redistributing or spreading something around illegally.

For exaple if a person was to take images of a bands website: say Girls Aloud and then added them to Limewire, they would be in breach of this law as they were spreading the images around without a liscence or permission from the band itself.

Copyright free graphics.  Explain what this means and mention examples.

This can be images such as clip art, graphics, photographs etc which are normally offered to the public for a small fee. When this is paid the data can be used freely but the creator always holds the copyright and publishing rights. The user can publish the images if they want but they cannot sell them or redistribute to a third party. These graphics can be used and edited freely without any worry that you will be charged for tampering with copyright material.