Isn't Starforce Illegal?

[TheJkWhoSaysNi]

Looking through the Licence_UK.rtf file on the SC:CT DVD-ROM there is no mention of starforce or any kind of copy protection. It never says that starforce will be installed with the game.

Computer Misuse Act 1990:

3.—(1) A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he does any act which causes an unauthorised modification of the contents of any computer; and
(b) at the time when he does the act he has the requisite intent and the requisite knowledge.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above the requisite intent is an intent to cause a modification of the contents of any computer and by so doing—

(a) to impair the operation of any computer;

(b) to prevent or hinder access to any program or data held in any computer; or

(c) to impair the operation of any such program or the reliability of any such data.

This is exactly what Stafrorce does. It installs itself without you knowing and stops you using certain programs (CloneCd, Alcohol 120% etc). Definatly breaking the computer misuse act there.

I dont know about laws in other countries but Starforce is definatly illegal here in the UK.