Law / United States / 
Connecticut
Connecticut Computer Crimes (unauthorized use of a computer or computer network with intent to copy, alter or disable)
In force since .
A computer misuse rule binding public and private bodies.
As of .
What it requires
- Do not use a computer or computer network without the owner's right or permission, or in a manner exceeding it, with the intent to make an unauthorized copy of its data, to cause it to malfunction, or to alter or erase its data or software; the statute defines being without authority by the owner's permission and states no knowledge element.
What this law does
Section 53-451(b) makes it unlawful for any person to use a computer or computer network without authority and with the intent to do any of several things. One of them is to make or cause to be made an unauthorized copy, in any form, of computer data, computer programs or computer software residing in, communicated by or produced by a computer or computer network.
A person is without authority when the person has no right or permission of the owner to use a computer or uses a computer in a manner exceeding such right or permission (subsection (a)(14)(A)), a test that turns on the owner's permission and states no knowledge element. A person uses a computer or computer network when the person attempts to cause or causes it to perform or to stop performing computer operations (subsection (a)(13)(A)).
A violation is a class B misdemeanor, with higher grades where reckless or malicious actions cause damage of more than $2,500 to the property of another person (subsection (d)). Nothing in the section is to be construed to interfere with or prohibit terms or conditions in a contract or license related to computers, computer data or computer services (subsection (e)).
Section 53-452 gives a person whose property or person is injured by a violation a civil action in the Superior Court to enjoin further violations and to recover actual damages, which include loss of profits, and the costs of the action. That action must be brought within two years from the date of the act complained of (section 53-452(f)). The official annotations to section 53-451 list no decision construing it.
Public Act 99-160 enacted the section, and its official source line records no effective date of its own, so the general rule for the effective date of a Connecticut public act applies (section 2-32 of the General Statutes: the first day of October following the session at which it was passed), and the section commenced .
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