💻 Paper 1 · Topic 6: Computer and the Law
6.3 Copyright, Peer-to-Peer & Open Source
Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 · ~12 min read · ⭐ Pro

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Copyright is automatic legal protection granted to the creator of original work. It gives the creator exclusive rights over how the work is used, copied, distributed, or adapted.

  • Applies to software, music, films, books, images, databases
  • Does not need to be registered — it is automatic upon creation
  • Infringement (copying/distributing without permission) can result in fines or prosecution

Types of software licence

Licence typeWhat you can do
Proprietary (commercial)Must purchase; cannot view/modify source code; cannot distribute copies; e.g., Microsoft Office
Open sourceSource code is freely available; can view, modify, and distribute; e.g., Linux, VLC
FreewareFree to use but source code is NOT available and cannot be modified
SharewareFree to use for a trial period; payment required for continued use or full features

Open Source vs Proprietary Software

Open SourceProprietary
Source codePublicly availableHidden / not distributed
CostUsually freeUsually paid
ModificationAllowed (with some licence conditions)Not allowed
SupportCommunity-based; no official supportOfficial support from developer
SecurityCode visible — vulnerabilities can be spotted and fixed by community; also visible to attackersCode hidden — harder for attackers to find exploits; but harder for users to verify security
ExamplesLinux, Firefox, LibreOfficeWindows, Microsoft Office, Adobe

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networks and Copyright

A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is a type of network where all computers (peers) act as both clients and servers — sharing resources directly with each other, without a central server.

  • Files are split into small pieces and downloaded simultaneously from multiple peers (e.g., BitTorrent)
  • Highly scalable — more users = faster downloads

Legal uses of P2P

  • Sharing open source software distributions
  • Licensed media platforms
  • Large file distribution by developers

Illegal uses of P2P

  • Sharing copyrighted music, films, or software without permission (piracy)
  • Copyright holders lose revenue; creators are not compensated
  • Users who download can face legal action

Creative Commons

Creative Commons (CC) licences allow creators to specify which rights they keep and which they grant to users — offering a middle ground between "all rights reserved" (copyright) and "no rights reserved" (public domain). Examples include licences that allow use with attribution, or use for non-commercial purposes only.

Exam tip: Know the four software licence types (proprietary, open source, freeware, shareware) and be able to compare open source vs proprietary in terms of cost, source code access, modification, support, and security. For P2P — explain both legal and illegal applications.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
  • Saying "freeware" is open source — freeware is free to use but the source code is not available and it cannot be modified
  • Confusing shareware and freeware — shareware is time-limited/feature-limited trial; freeware is free to use without restriction
  • Saying P2P networks are always illegal — they have many legitimate uses
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✍️

Worksheet — Copyright & Open Source

5 questions · 11 marks

Q1State two differences between open source and proprietary software. [2]
✅ Mark scheme
Any two: Open source source code is publicly available; proprietary source code is hidden [1]; Open source is usually free; proprietary usually requires purchase [1]; Open source can be modified; proprietary cannot [1]; Open source has community support; proprietary has official developer support [1]
Q2State the difference between freeware and shareware. [2]
✅ Mark scheme
Freeware is software that is permanently free to use (though source code is not available) [1]; shareware is software that is free for a trial period or with limited features, after which payment is required for continued/full use [1]
Q3Describe how a P2P network works. [3]
✅ Mark scheme
In a P2P network, all computers (peers) act as both clients and servers [1]; files are split into pieces and downloaded from multiple peers simultaneously [1]; there is no central server required — resources are shared directly between computers [1]
Q4Give one legal and one illegal use of peer-to-peer technology. [2]
✅ Mark scheme
Legal: sharing open source software / distributing large files by developers / licensed media [1]; Illegal: downloading and sharing copyrighted music, films, or software without permission (piracy) [1]
Q5A small charity wants free software to edit videos. Explain which type of software licence they should look for, and why. [2]
✅ Mark scheme
Open source or freeware [1]; open source/freeware software is free to use, which suits a charity with limited budget; open source also allows modification if needed [1]
Quiz — Copyright & Open Source
Q 1 of 7
Score
/ 7
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TermDefinition
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Mini Test — Copyright & P2P

10 minutes · mixed marks

← 6.2 Privacy & Legislation Topic 6: Computer & the Law Next: 7.1 Algorithm Design →
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