What is the primary purpose of the Data Protection Act?

The primary purpose of the Data Protection Act is indeed to protect personal data from theft and misuse, thereby ensuring individuals' privacy rights are upheld in the digital age. This legislation establishes principles and guidelines on how personal information should be collected, processed, and stored, thereby safeguarding individuals from unauthorized access and potential exploitation of their personal information.

The act provides individuals with certain rights regarding their data, such as the right to access their data, request corrections, and be informed about how their data is used. Such protections are essential in an increasingly data-driven world, where the risk of data breaches and identity theft is prevalent.

In contrast to the other options, while intellectual property laws, software licensing, and hardware specifications are important aspects of technology and law, they do not focus directly on the protection of personal data, which is the key aim of the Data Protection Act.