Computer Software for Copyright Protection

Computer software has entered a new dimension with the start of the third millennium. It caters to a broader segment of technological needs. Computer software comprises of three types, programming software, system software and application software. Programming software is used to assist the programmers to write the computer programs.

System software facilitates the execution of the computer system, example, Mac, Linux, Microsoft Windows. Application software makes the user computer achieve different task which has no relation with the computer development. Copyright issue is very significant here and software is copyrighted to check the illegal copying of the software. This enables the software to be used by the licensee with respect to certain terms and conditions, but others are restricted from using, changing, sharing it etc.

One worthy copyright license for computer software is an open source license which contains the source code as well and almost anyone can use it. The source code might be evaluated and changed by the users to suit their own needs i.e. customization. The benefit of subscribing to open source licenses is that they are commonly open at no cost, allow for alteration, rearrangement and money-making use without any requirement to pay the original creator. Amendment of the source code for personal use or only permit non-commercial rearrangement is permitted as the only measure by some open source licenses.

Copyright services ensure protection of computer software as a literary work, however it cannot be patented. If the software combines with hardware then it cannot be granted patent, only otherwise. The novelty does not rely in the software code but on the product. To acquire software protection, form 4 should be applied for (application for registration of copyright).

The form 4 covers both the statement of particulars as well as the statement of further particulars (abbreviated as SOP and SOFP respectively). While filling in these, the requirements of form 4 should be clearly and relevantly followed. Over-writing and irrelevancy should be avoided. “Not applicable” should be written for blank answers in form 4.

Single creative work is comprised by each single copyright application. In case of more than one work, the applicant needs to submit separate copyright request at the copyright office. Other considerations for software copyright protection depend on the methodology involved in the software and the source code used. If need be, new source code could be created and/or editing the existing source code used in the software.