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1CP2-P-8.4 Intellectual property and software licensing

Part 4 of 5 · 1CP2-P-8 · Environment, languages and intellectual property

Intellectual property (IP) covers creations of the mind and legal rights connected to them. Software source code is normally protected by copyright. A licence states how someone may install, use, copy, modify or redistribute software. Buying access does not automatically transfer copyright ownership.

Students will:

  • separate copyright, patents, trademarks and licences
  • interpret what a software licence permits
  • distinguish owning a copy from owning copyright
  • apply intellectual-property concepts to scenarios

Inside: 5 explanation cells, 1 fill-in-the-blanks cell, 2 multiple-choice questions and 4 written answers. 15 marks, about 45 minutes.

Series: 1CP2-P-8 · Environment, languages and intellectual property, part 4 of 5.

Shared by Coding PathwayVerified teacher

  • 12 cells
  • About 45 minutes
  • CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Shared 17 Aug 2026

Preview

The whole resource, exactly as a class sees it. Answers and marking are held back.

Intellectual property and software licensing

Intellectual property (IP) covers creations of the mind and legal rights connected to them. Software source code is normally protected by copyright. A licence states how someone may install, use, copy, modify or redistribute software. Buying access does not automatically transfer copyright ownership.

1. Keep the concepts separate

Copyright protects original expression such as code. A trademark identifies a business source through a name or sign. A patent may protect a qualifying invention, subject to legal rules. A licence gives permission under stated conditions. In GCSE answers, identify the relevant right or permission rather than listing every type of IP.

Fill in the blanks3 marks
Original program code is generally protected by gap 1. Permission to use and redistribute under conditions is a gap 2. A brand sign may be protected as a gap 3.
  • copyright
  • licence
  • password
  • trademark
Multiple choice1 mark

A school buys 30 software licences. What has it normally obtained?

  • AOwnership of the developer's copyright
  • BPermission to use the software under stated conditions
  • CA right to publish the source code
  • DAutomatic patent ownership

2. Read licence conditions

A proprietary licence may restrict copying, modification and redistribution. An open-source licence can permit inspection, modification and redistribution, but still imposes conditions such as preserving notices or sharing changes under the same licence. ‘Open source’ does not mean ‘no copyright’ or ‘no rules’.

Written answer2 marks

A student copies a paid program to ten friends despite a one-user licence. Explain the IP or licensing issue.

Connect the action to permission and the rights holder.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

Explain why open-source software can still be protected by copyright.

Separate ownership from permission.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which protection most directly distinguishes a company's product name or logo?

  • ATrademark
  • BCopyright in source code
  • CA user password
  • DA compiler
Written answer4 marks

Compare one possible advantage and one possible restriction of using open-source software for a school project.

Apply both sides to use or maintenance.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

A team wants to reuse code found online. State two checks it should make before including the code.

Think ownership, licence and conditions.

Students type their answer here.

Examination method

Identify the protected creation or brand first, then state what action is permitted or restricted. Do not use copyright, patent, trademark and licence as interchangeable labels.

Route forward

You can distinguish copyright, trademarks, patents and licensing without treating them as synonyms. The checkpoint now combines environmental reasoning, languages, translators and IP.