What internet law do I need to know?

In its early days, the internet was seen by many as something different - a world apart. Some idealists even believed it should be. They envisaged a place of ultimate freedom, where individuals could say whatever they wanted with no repercussion in the ’real world’.

That presumption ended over a decade ago, with the landmark case of Godfrey vs Demon. In this case, an academic named Laurence Godfrey successfuly sued internet service provider Demon for libel after the company refused to remove a forged message from their site.

Since this groundbreaking civil case in 2001, the courts have demonstrated very clearly that online crime is crime, and online contracts are contracts. Just like the real world, you need to take care with the comments that you make. Even though you can post as an anonymous visitor to a site, your contribution may well have an impact on the lives of others. As well as responsibilities, you also have rights that will protect you when it comes to buying goods online.

Some laws – the Electronic Communications Act, for instance – have been written specifically for the online world. In general, though, the laws are the same: libel, threaten, bully, harass, make racist remarks and there may be legal consequences.

Which is where common sense comes in. No one can be expected to know all of the laws that operate in their own country. But you will usually have some sense of when your behaviour is wrong, and if it feels wrong, it probably is.

Online, however, there is the added danger that if you are posting views or comments to a forum in another country, you could find yourself falling foul of that country’s laws. Holocaust denial, for instance, is not a crime in the UK but it is in Germany - and extradition for that offence is possible.

One area where there is much confusion and debate is the realm of copyright, and copying in general. Don't assume that just because something (an image or video, for example) is on the internet that it's there for the taking. As far as most countries are concerned, the work an artist, or other skilled individual, creates is theirs and they own the copyright. They alone have the right to control the copying and exploitation of their work by others.

In terms of material covered by copyright, it’s not just songs, music, and literary works, but also computer programs, web pages and designs.

Individuals may permit others to use their work for free – or they may sell the copyright to another. The wide availability of material on the net may lull users into a false sense of security. The bottom line, however, is that downloading copyrighted work without the consent of the copyright owner amounts to infringement (unless a specific legal exception applies), and people who abuse copyright laws can be pursued through the criminal courts.

Dealing with this issue is high on the agenda of both UK and EU parliaments, with much debate about how to enforce the laws and appropriate penalties.