This chapter discusses protection under the law of copyright. Topics covered include copyright basics; obtaining copyright; forms of protected work; the requirement of originality; copyright ownership; copyright infringement; the nature of copying; other rights belonging to the copyright owner; the development of software copyright; and literal and non-literal copying. The law of copyright is perhaps the major branch of intellectual property law relevant to computer software. Virtually every piece of software will be protected by copyright. The main issue concerns the extent of the protection that is offered. Computer programs are generally protected as literary works. This was appropriate in the early days where computers performed essentially functional tasks – often associated with mathematical calculations. It is arguable that modern software, which often makes extensive use of graphical images, is more akin to an artistic work than a literary one. Regardless of categorization, the courts in the United Kingdom have applied a narrow interpretation of the scope of copyright. Reproduction of the underlying code will be unlawful but replication through independent work of the effects produced by the code (often referred to a non-literal copying) will not.
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3. Copyright II
Authorship, Ownership, Exploitation, Term, Moral Rights, and Economic Rights
All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing able students with a stand-alone resource. This chapter discusses principles relating to the authorship and ownership of copyright, and the significance of this designation. It examines how owners of copyright can exploit their works by either assignment or licence and the circumstances in which courts can imply terms in the absence of parties having agreed as to how a copyright work can be exploited. The chapter discusses the term of copyright protection and also examines exclusive rights, both moral and economic in nature, that authors and owners respectively have in their copyright works.
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This chapter begins by examining the rights granted exclusively to authors—moral rights and artist’s resale right. It discusses ‘moral rights’ first, that is, the right to be identified as the author of the protected work, and to have that work’s integrity respected by others, followed by the artist’s resale right. The rest of this chapter discusses fundamental rules and controls on exploitation and use of copyright. This includes dealings in copyright, such as assignment and licensing; specific features of copyright exploitation, for example collective licensing; and also contemporary issues related to the use of copyright works, for example the challenge of orphan works for users, and the application of technological protection measures by right owners to prevent unauthorised use of or access to protected works.
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L. Bently, B. Sherman, D. Gangjee, and P. Johnson
This chapter is concerned with the restrictions placed on the copyright owners’ ability to exploit and use their work. It first considers the various mechanisms that are used to regulate contracts between authors and entrepreneurs and then assesses the impact of competition law in the UK and Europe on the ability of copyright owners to exploit their works. It also looks at the ways in which copyright contracts are regulated with respect to users of copyright, along with the issue of orphan works. The chapter concludes by outlining the different controls that are imposed on collecting societies.
Chapter
All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing able students with a stand-alone resource. This chapter discusses principles relating to the authorship and ownership of copyright, and the significance of this designation. It examines how owners of copyright can exploit their works by either assignment or licence and the circumstances in which courts can imply terms in the absence of parties having agreed as to how a copyright work can be exploited. The chapter discusses the term of copyright protection and also examines exclusive rights, both moral and economic in nature, that authors and owners respectively have in their copyright works.
Chapter
L. Bently, B. Sherman, D. Gangjee, and P. Johnson
This chapter is concerned with the restrictions placed on the copyright owners’ ability to exploit and use their work. It first considers the various mechanisms that are used to regulate contracts between authors and entrepreneurs and then assesses the impact of competition law on the ability of copyright owners to exploit their works. It also looks at the ways in which copyright contracts are regulated with respect to users of copyright, along with the issue of orphan works. The chapter concludes by outlining the different controls that are imposed on collecting societies.
