Many of the laws that exist for written media (books, journals etc.) also apply to websites.

Copyright Law –

The online law of copyright is the same as the offline law. If you find an image, photo, sound file or piece of text that you want to copy and use, then you need to check the copyright information.

Data Protection Act –

The Data Protection Act gives people the right to know what information is held about them and how it is used. Any website that allows you to register will be governed by the Data Protection Act, it will also state somewhere on the website how your information will be used – this is usually found in a ‘Privacy Policy’ or under the website’s terms and conditions.

Libel and Law of Defamation –

This law is all about reputation, and the protection of reputation and it protects both individuals and companies. It states that you should be protected if someone publishes information about you that is untrue or harmful. It also protects companies from anything that you may publish about them. This is the same law that newspapers must adhere to.

E-commerce Law and Consumer Protection Regulations –

The E-commerce Law (Electronic Commerce) and Consumer Protection Regulation relates to websites that sell goods or services online. The law is intended to protect you from rogue traders and fraudulent websites.

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