Computer Software and Copyright

Abstract

The method of copyright, although neglected in the past, is a method to consider for legal protection of commercial computer software and programs. Copyright is particularly directed to written text, and it is therefore applicable to the text form or listing of computer programs and software, and to all derivatives thereof. When the simple formal requirements for copyright have been met, it immediately provides claim to exclusive rights in the published text. Unauthorized copying, translation, performance, or making derivative versions, of a copyrighted text then constitutes a copyright infringement with legal penalties. Included among the things protectable by copyright are: computer programs, documentation and diagrams, the meticulous details of a debugged program, program translation such as from FORTRAN to ALGOL, compiling of programs, running a program, software systems and their command languages, languages and their compilers, and the microprogramming required for a computer to mimic a defined instructional set. Copyright may be more statable than patent or trade secret for commercial protection of most typical programs and software Copymght of computer software may speed the achievement of program portability, and standardization of software systems. Utilization of, and acceptance of, copyright protection in the industry is expected to increase as computer professionals learn of its features and advantages. © 1975, ACM. All rights reserved.