Copyright Design and Patents Act of 1988 and Other Acts Against Cracking in the United Kingdom

In Europe, crackers can face a number of charges under various laws there. The United Kingdom, for example, has the Copyright Design and Patents Act of 1988, the U.K. Data Protection Act of 1998, the Criminal Damage Act of 1971, the Theft Act of 1968, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984, Order 2002—particularly Section 69, which relates to computer-generating evidence and the Computer Misuse Act of 1990.

Although many crackers in the United Kingdom naively think that the only legislation applicable to their activities is the Computer Misuse Act of 1990, when charged with offences under the other acts, they often find much difficulty in coming to terms with the situation.

See Also: Crackers; Computer Misuse Act of 1990; Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984; Order 2002; Telecommunications Act of 1996; U.K. Data Protection Act of 1998.