| A/B | |
| BitTorrent: | Protocol designed for transferring files. It is peer-to-peer in nature, groups of users connect to each other directly to send and receive portions of files, all activities are co-ordinated by a central server. |
| C/D | |
| CAL | Client Access Licence - gives the user the right to access the services of a server on which the software is stored. There are a number of varieties of CALs such as 'per seat', 'per server', 'per processor' and 'per user'. |
| Client (in reference to BitTorrent) | the program used to download the file. |
| CDPA | Copyright, Designs and Patent Act — the law that, among other things, protects the rights of IP holders. |
| CDPA - S107A and 198A | The Statutory Instrument of the CDPA, which give Trading Standards the powers to enforce copyright offences. |
| Downloads | Files containing a variety of media - films, games, music and software, which have been permanently copied from a website onto the hard drive of a computer. |
| E/F | |
| EULA | End User Licence Agreement. A type of generic licence, which is normally available when purchasing a fully boxed retail/off the shelf new software application. |
| G/H | |
| I/J | |
| IP | Intellectual Property — your right to own things you create in a similar way to owning physical property. You can control the use of your IP, and use it to gain reward. This encourages further innovation and creativity.The four main types of IP are:Copyright protects material, such as literature, art, music, sound recordings, films and broadcasts.Designs protect the visual appearance or eye appeal of products.Patents protect the technical and functional aspects of products and processes.Trade Marks protect signs that can distinguish the goods and services of one trader from those of another.However, IP also covers trade secrets, plant varieties, geographical indications, performers' rights and so on. Often, more than one type of IP may apply to the same creation. |
| IP Address | A 32-bit number that identifies each computer or device on a network. The address is written as four numbers separated by full stops (periods), each number can be 0 to 254. A registered IP addressed which is unique to the users is required when connecting a private network to the Internet, thus avoiding any duplicates. |
| ISP | Internet Service Provider - company that provides access to the internet, normally for a monthly subscription. Most ISPs provide software, security controls, access phone number and modem. |
| K/L | |
| Leecher | Reference to BitTorrent - individual downloading the file, also known as 'peer'. |
| Licence | Documentation/process by which the rights-owner/software publisher, outlines the terms and conditions under which their product can be used by an end-user. |
| Licensee | In context with the licence, the end-user of the software product. |
| Licensor | In context with the licence, the rights-owner or software publisher. |
| M/N | |
OP | |
| OEM licence | Original Equipment Manufacturer licence, is supplied to software which is pre-installed onto a computer by the reseller prior to delivery to the end-user, commonly as a bundle supplied by most well known retailers. It should be noted that the bundle should still be supplied with the original disks for all software installed on the machine as well as the OEM licences. OEM software and therefore the licences are machine specific they can not be transferred to another machine. |
| Open Source | Software available freely in the internet. The source code is freely accessible and the licence permits source code to be altered to meet own requirements, provided amendments to product are shared. |
| P2P (or peer-to-peer) | Network of computers connected to each other through the internet, allowing files to be shared between the systems on the network without the need for a central server. |
| Q/R | |
| S/T | |
| Shareware | 'Try before you buy' software. Trial version of software made available, typically free of charge, which can also be distributed but not sold to others. It should be noted that all shareware software has a licence. The end user is able to use the software for a fixed duration without payment, upon completion of the fixed period the user would be required to make a payment should they wish to continue to use the software or alternatively remove the software from their system. The software will not be serviced or amended until a payment has been made. |
| Source code | Software program in its most basic form, the instructions used by the developer to the computer telling it what the software looks like and what it does. The source code will tell the computer what the screen should look like and how the end-user can interface with the programme. |
| Thin client | A network computer without a hard drive. |
| Tracker | Reference to BitTorrent - a server which keeps track of which seeds and peers are in the swarm. Not involved in the data transfer and does not have any copies of the files |
| U/V | |
| Uploads | Individuals who place files (films, games, music and software) onto their computers, which are themselves networked with other computer users, so that these can be copied/downloaded, often without the end-users permission. |
