Various Ways to Protect Computer Software

By Hannah Walton

“Computer software is a program that enables a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system”.[1] Examples of computer software include operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or internet browsers such as Chrome. Computer software can be protected by installing firewalls, creating strong passwords, or backing up the computer. Despite this fact intellectual property, specifically copyright and patent laws, can be used to further protect computer software.

“Software copyright protects the expression of ideas, such as the source code, object code, and user interfaces of software”.[2] Registering computer software under copyright law allows the owner to prevent infringement and control how the work is used. Once the computer software is created in a tangible form and registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, the software can be considered fully protected.

Copyright law protects the specific way a software is written and allows the creator to control how the software is copied or shared.2

“A software patent includes the functionality, methods, algorithms, or processes of a software invention”. A computer software must be new, useful, and non-obvious to receive the protections of a patent .[3] Using patent protection, the inventor has the ability to make, use, sell, and import the software. Similar to copyright law, the inventor must submit an application and register for a patent. Patent protection differs from copyright protection by managing infringement that occurs when software is manufactured or sold without permission. “In other words, if someone views your software and ‘steals your idea’ by writing new code from scratch that performs the same function, copyright law will not stop them. But a software patent might”.3 In conclusion both copyright law and patent law will protect users from infringement and allow for greater protection of computer software.

[1] https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Computer_software

[2] https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-a-software-copyright/

[3] https://www.bitlaw.com/software-patent/index.html#:~:text=If%20you%20want%20to%20protect,the%20inventors%20of%20the%20invention