Computer Law

Part 1: Intellectual Property Protection for computer software (computer Programs)

* Introduction.

* History of the protection of computer programs.

* Protection of computer programs under patents.

* Protection of computer programs under copyright.

* International Norms concerning copyright protection for computer programs.

* National Legislation on the protection of computer programs.

* Creation and use of works by means of computers.

* Databases.

INTRODUCTION

Computer technology plays an increasingly important role in modern society. Computers- electronic machines with the capacity to store and/or process data- are called ‘hardware’. The development of hardware is astonishing: computers are more potent, and can be sold at steadily falling prices, and computer technology enters more areas of life, not only technological environment and offices (their initial stronghold), but also in more mundane surroundings, such as household appliances, cars, watches and similar products.

A computer cannot operate without instructions. These instructions (programs) may be embedded into the hardware (the computer itself), for example in ROMs (Read Only Memory, circuits from which digital information can be retrieved) but most often they are created, reproduced and distributed in media which are separate from the computer hardware. Typically, computer programs for personal computers are distributed on diskettes, or CD-ROMs. Usually, computer programs are created in a programming language which can be understood by people trained in that language. That form of appearance of the program, which can be on the computer screen or printed out on paper, is normally referred to as the ‘source code’. Another form of appearance is the so-called ‘object code, where the program is transferred (‘compiled’) into the digital value ‘0’ and ‘1’. In this form the program is unintelligible for persons, but it is machine-readable form, for example, a diskette, and...