This document discusses several legal and ethical issues related to web design, including property rights, copyright, client relations, libel and slander, representation, and accessibility. It notes that copyright automatically exists for websites and content created, and that written contracts should outline ownership and payment terms when working with clients. The document also warns about legal liability for spreading misinformation online and laws regarding data protection, discrimination, and computer hacking. Accessibility guidelines are presented for making web content usable by people with disabilities.

1. Legal and Ethical Issues in Web
Design

2. Property Rights
 Property rights are theoretical constructs in
economics for determining how a resource is used
and owned.

3. Copyright
 The right to copy
 Automatically exists

4. Copyright
 Who owns a website you've made?
 You or the company you work for?
 You or your client?

5. Client Relations
 What is your relationship with your client?
 Do you need a written contract?
 - Yes you do!

6. Contacts
 Can be simple or complex
 At least sign a basic contract
 - when do you get paid?
 - when is the website complete?
 - are you providing hosting?

7. Libel & Slander
 Lies and Deformation
 Libel: Written (inc web and social networks)
 Slander: Spoken

8. Libel & Slander
 46% of 18- to 24-year-olds are unaware they can be
sued for defamation if they tweet an unsubstantiated
rumour about someone, according to research for
law firm Wiggin

9. Libel & Slander

10. Blasphemy
 Disrespectful to on or more gods

11. Blasphemy
 Monty Python’s Life of Brian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX0GBsD1PnQ

12. Blasphemy

13. Representation
 Re-Presentation

14. Representation
 Gender
 Sex
 Age
 Beliefs
 Race
 ...and more

15. Parliamentary Acts
 Race Relations Act 1976
 Equal Pay Act 1970
 Sex Discrimination Act 1975
 Disability Discrimination Act 1995
 Now all combined: Equality Act 2010

16. Parliamentary Acts
 Obscene Publications Act

17. Parliamentary Acts
 Obscene Publications Act

18. Parliamentary Acts
 Computer Misuse Act
 Hacking
 Spam / Phishing

19. Parliamentary Acts
 Data Protection Act
 'Data which relates to a living individual who can be
identified'

20. Parliamentary Acts
 Data Protection Act
 'the individual needs to consent to the collection of their
personal information'

21. Accessibility
 Access to the Web for the less abled

22. Accessibility
 Partially Sighted
 Screen Readers
 Colours
 Font Size
 Braille Readers
 Alt Tags on Images