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Domain: opsi.gov.uk

Stories and comments across the archive that link to opsi.gov.uk.

Comments · 308

  1. Re:Fool me once... by cortana · · Score: 1 · on Second Indymedia Server Seized in UK Within a Year

    That's not actually true. Part 3 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 has not yet entered into force.

  2. Re:'Piracy' is not illegal in the UK by cowbutt · · Score: 1 · on Software Piracy Seen as Normal
    Theft is a criminal offense, for which you can be fined or imprisoned. Copyright infringement is a civil offense for which you can be sued.

    Actually, now we've implemented the European Copyright Directive, deliberate infringment may be a criminal offence.

  3. You mean like a Data Protection Act? by Colin+Smith · · Score: 1 · on 3.9 Million Citigroup Customers' Data Lost

    http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm

    Which requires companies to take precautions against the loss of personal data.

  4. Re:Not Surprised by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on DVD Decrypter Author Served With Take-Down Order

    Reading between the lines here, I suspect that he is being accused of breaking parts of the "Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003" http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032498.htm

    It's pretty nasty to read, mainly because it is a cut-and-paste job on the "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988".

    Section 296 seems to say "publishing information intended to enable circumvention of a technical device designed to circumvent copy-protection is equivalent to copyright infringement" (my paraphrasing, IANAL, YMMV, yada yada).

    However, there do seem to be enough loopholes elsewhere in it to drive a bus through, or at least keep the lawyers happy for months. Section 296ZB doesn't cover free (as in beer) software at all well, and "research into cryptography" is at least partially exempted, as is "private study of folksongs".

    It really needs a proper legal test so that the courts can set a precedent over what some terms actually mean in thereal world and which sections take precedent over which others.

    However, I can fully understand why one bloke at home might not want to be the one to have that day in court.

  5. In the UK by BillsPetMonkey · · Score: 1 · on Document Disposal Law Kicks In

    Unfortunately, companies can't be fined for breaching any aspect of the Data Protection Act, apart from when they don't pay the Information Commissioner their data controller register subscription fee!

    So in the UK, you can dispose of personal information by leaving it on the street and you can't be prosecuted. The fine should be much higher though, and personal and punitive damages should be applied, IMO.

  6. Re:Stolen Account Information and Dupes by nanoakron · · Score: 0, Redundant · on Over Half a Million Bank Accounts Breached

    Write to your politicians requesting something like the UK's Data Protection Act 1998.

    http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm

    -Link to full text of bill.

    -Nano.

  7. The DPA requires a proactive approach by Colin+Smith · · Score: 2, Informative · on Over Half a Million Bank Accounts Breached

    Companies are required to put "technical and organisational measures" in place to protect data.

    If you can read legalese. The principles:
    http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/80029--l.htm# sch1ptI

    Course, I'm not entirely sure how big the teeth are.

  8. US data protection act? by Colin+Smith · · Score: 4, Informative · on Over Half a Million Bank Accounts Breached

    Isn't there a US equivalent of the Data Protection Act?

    http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htmh ttp://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm

    A few holes, especially principle eight, but overall it does what it's supposed to.