The Copyright Protection of Computer Software in the United Kingdom

"This work analyses the scope of copyright protection for computer software in the United Kingdom,and examines challenges for the future. The work presents the case for the adoption and application of infringement methodology emanating from the courts in the United States, resulting in a narrower scope of protection than is presently argued for by many UK academics, practitioners and judges alike. The work makes a careful evaluation of the efficacy of the various prevailing tests for infringement of copyright in software and their progenies, suggesting an improved formula and advocating the utility of limiting doctrines to assist in the determination of substantial similarity of particular non-literal software elements, user interfaces and screen display protection. The monograph also contains a detailed study of reverse engineering, copyright defences, permitted acts, database protection and the copyright-contract interface in the context of computer software, not omitting crucial discussions of the internet, digital dissemination and the impact of recent treaty and legislative initiatives on British copyright law. As such it will be an important resource for practitioners, lecturers and students alike."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Acknowledgements -- Table Of Cases -- Table Of Legislation -- Table Of Eu Directives -- Table Of International Instruments -- 1.. Introduction -- I.. Aims And Objectives -- Ii.. Issues For Investigation -- Iii.. Approach -- Iv.. Proposed Infringement Methodology -- V.. Justification -- Vi.. The Relevance Of Competition Law -- Vii.. Method And Plan -- Part 1. Subsistence Of Copyright And Infringement Methodology -- 2.. Subsistence Of Copyright And Infringement Analysis Under Us And Uk Laws -- I.. Introduction -- Ii.. Subsistence Of Copyright -- (a). Computer Programs As Protectable Works -- (b). Originality -- (c). Other Prohibited Acts Under Section 16 Cdpa -- (d). Secondary Infringement Of Copyright -- (e). Moral Rights -- Iii.. The Idea/expression Dichotomy -- (a). The Realm Of Ideas -- (b). Dichotomy Under Threat -- (c). Basis For Applying The Dichotomy In The United Kingdom -- Iv.. Infringement Methodology: A Prescriptive Analysis Of Substantial Similarity -- (a). Copyright Infringement Of Computer Software: Literal Copying -- (b). Copyright Infringement Of Computer Software; Non-literal Copying -- V.. Summary Of Trends In Us Infringement Methodology -- (a). Adoption Of The Altai Test By Other Courts -- (b). Other Tests Of Substantial Similarity -- (c). Proper Definition Of Abstraction Levels -- (d). Observations -- Vi.. Conclusion -- 3.. Limiting Doctrines Of Merger And Scenes A Faire -- I.. Introduction -- Ii.. Merger Doctrine -- (a). Us Origins -- (b). Difficulties In Application -- (c). Traces Of Merger In The United Kingdom -- Iii.. Merger And Software Copyright Protection -- (a). The Operation Of The Doctrine In The Usa -- (b). Possibility Of Applying Merger In The United Kingdom -- (c). Case Against The Application Of The Doctrine Of Merger -- (d). Case For The Application Of The Doctrine Of Merger -- Iv.. The Scenes A Faire Doctrine -- (a). The Origin And Development Of Scenes A Faire -- (b). The Idea/expression Dichotomy -- V.. The Position Of Scenes A Faire In English Law -- (a). Historical Accounts And Incidents -- (b). Plots, Themes, Characters And Dramatic Ideas -- (c). Case For The Direct Application Of The Scenes A Faire Doctrine -- Vi.. Software Copyright: The Relevance Of Scenes A Faire -- (a). Material For Exclusion -- (b). De Facto Standardisation -- (c). Video Games -- Vii.. Conclusion -- Part 2. The Scope Of Copyright Protection Of User Interfaces -- 4.. The Copyright Protection Of User Interfaces -- I.. Introduction -- (a). Report Of The Australian Copyright Law Review Committee -- (b). Definitions -- Ii.. Copyright Protection Of User Interfaces In The Usa: A Survey Of Recent Cases And Determination Of Protectable Elements -- (a). The Early Cases -- (b). The High-water Mark For User Interface Protection: Lotus V Paperback -- (c). Contributions Of The Ninth Circuit To User Interface Protection -- (d). A New Dawn -- (e). Other Courts: Clash Of Circuits -- Iii.. General Conclusions On User Interface Protection In The Usa And Its Impact On Uk Software Copyright Law -- (a). Ramifications For Uk Software Copyright Law: Infringement Analysis -- (b). John Richardson V Flanders: A User Interface Case -- (c). Two Avenues Of Protection -- Iv.. Protection Of Screen Displays Under Uk Copyright Law -- (a). The Protection Of Static Displays -- (b). A Running Sequence Of Displays: Protection As Films Or Computer-generated Works Under The Cdpa -- V.. Policy/economic Justifications -- (a). Menell's Economic Analysis -- (b). Policy And Economic Considerations In Lotus V Borland -- Vi.. Conclusion 5.. Copyright Protection Of Video Games -- I.. Introduction -- Ii.. Protection Of Video Games In The Usa -- Iii.. Protection Of Video Games In The United Kingdom -- (a). Play Mode/attract Mode: Film Protection Of Screen Images -- (b). Other Products Of Execution -- Iv.. Conclusion -- Part 3. Reverse Engineering And Defences -- 6.. Reverse Engineering -- I.. Introduction -- (a). Structure -- (b). Reverse Engineering Defined -- (c). Implications Of The Adaptation Right: Section 21 Cdpa -- Ii.. The Software Directive And Reverse Engineering -- (a). Origins Of The Software Directive -- (b). Protection Of Interfaces -- (c). Reverse Engineering Techniques Other Than Decompilation -- (d). Decompilation -- Iii.. Implementation Of The Software Directive In The Cdpa -- (a). Decompilation Under The Cdpa -- (b). Reverse Engineering Techniques Other Than Decompilation Under The Cdpa -- Iv.. Reverse Engineering In The Usa -- (a). Attitude Of The Us Supreme Court Towards Reverse Engineering Generally -- (b). Permissibility Of Reverse Engineering Under Section 117 Usca -- (c). Reverse Engineering And Fair Use: Section 107 Usca -- V.. Reverse Engineering Under Us And Uk Copyright Laws: Points Of Contrast -- (a). Differences Between The Two Regimes -- (b). Similarities Between The Two Regimes -- (c). Future Compatibility -- Vi.. Commonwealth Developments -- (a). Australia -- (b). Singapore -- Vii.. Conclusion -- 7.. Defences And Other Permitted Acts -- I.. Introduction -- Ii.. Section 29 Cdpa: Fair Dealing For Research And Private Study And Its Continued Relevance For Uk Software Copyright Law -- (a). Section 29(4) Cdpa -- (b). Continued Relevance Of The Fair Dealing Defence -- (c). Meaning Of Research And Private Study -- (d). Whether The Dealing Is Fair In A Reverse Engineering Situation To Which Section 29(1) Cdpa Applies -- Iii.. Back-up Copies -- Iv.. Error Correction And Maintenance -- (a). Error Correction Defined -- (b). Extent Of Lawful Use -- (c). Decompilation For The Purposes Of Error Correction -- V.. Miscellaneous Exceptions: Other Permitted Acts -- (a). Section 56 Cdpa: Transfers Of Licensed Software -- (b). Common Law Defence Of Non-derogation Of Grant: The Retreat Of British Leyland -- Vi.. Conclusion -- Part 4. Challenges For The Future -- 8.. Software Copyright Protection In Relation To Internet Technology -- I.. Introduction -- Ii.. Copyright Issues And The Www: Applicable Provisions Of The Cdpa -- (a). Websites As Computer Programs -- (b). Websites As Compilation/database Or Computer-generated Works -- (c). Is A Website A Cable Programme Service? -- (d). Websites As Broadcasts? -- (e). The Scourge Of Www Links -- (f). Other Observations -- Iii.. The Digital Agenda -- (a). Temporary Reproduction: Articles 2 And 5 Proposed Directive -- (b). Technical Protection Systems And Anti-circumvention Legislation -- Iv.. Conclusion -- 9.. Database Protection In The United Kingdom: The New Deal And Its Effects On Software Protection -- I.. Introduction -- Ii.. Definitional Significance -- Iii.. Copyright Protection Of Databases -- Iv.. The Future Of Computer-generated Works -- V.. The New Database Right -- Vi.. Impact Of Database Copyright Provisions On Software Copyright Protection -- (a). Originality And Substantial Similarity -- (b). Computer Programs Contained Within Databases -- (c). Databases Contained Within Computer Programs -- (d). Computer Programs As Compilations Of Sub-programs -- Vii.. Conclusion -- 10.. The Copyright-contract Interface And Software Protection -- I.. Introduction -- Ii.. Shrink-wrap Licensing -- (a). Users' Rights Implied By Law -- (b). Description Of Shrink-wrapping -- (c). Shrink-wraps Under English Law -- (d). Buyer's Remedies Against The Software Supplier -- (e). Shrink-wrap Licences In The Usa: Possible Application? -- Iii.. Implied Licences And Users' Rights In Software Transactions -- (a). Implied Licences: General Principles -- (b). Implied Licences And Patent Law: Betts V Willmott -- (c). Implied Licences And Copyright Law -- (d). Further Extensions Of The Betts V Willmott Principle -- (e). Shareware And Implied Licences -- Iv.. Conclusion -- 11.. General Conclusion -- I.. Application Of Uk Copyright To The Www -- Ii.. The Digital Agenda -- Iii.. Uk Database Legislation -- Iv.. The Interface Between Contract And Copyright -- Appendix. Technical Background -- Appendix.. Technical Background: Software Design, Functionality, Reverse Engineering And Internet Issues -- I.. The Software Designing Process: An Overview -- Ii.. How A Computer Functions -- Iii.. Reverse Engineering Processes: A Technical Background -- Iv.. The Clean Room Procedure -- V.. Technical Issues And The Www -- Index. Stanley Lai. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Title Page......Page 1 Title verso......Page 2 Contents......Page 3 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Table of Cases......Page 11 Table of Legislation......Page 21 Table of EU Directives......Page 27 Table of International Instruments......Page 29 II. ISSUES FOR INVESTIGATION......Page 31 III. APPROACH......Page 35 IV. PROPOSED INFRINGEMENT METHODOLOGY......Page 36 V. JUSTIFICATIONS......Page 37 VI. THE RELEVANCE OF COMPETITION LAW......Page 38 VII. METHOD AND PLAN......Page 39 Part 1: Subsistence of Copyright and Infringement Methodology......Page 41 II. SUBSISTENCE OF COPYRIGHT......Page 43 III. THE IDEA/EXPRESSION DICHOTOMY......Page 51 IV. INFRINGEMENT METHODOLOGY: A PRESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF SUBSTANTIAL SIMILARITY......Page 54 V. SUMMARY OF TRENDS IN US INFRINGEMENT METHODOLOGY......Page 64 VI. CONCLUSION......Page 70 II. MERGER DOCTRINE......Page 71 III. MERGER AND SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTION......Page 76 IV. THE SCENES À FAIRE DOCTRINE......Page 82 V. THE POSITION OF SCENES À FAIRE IN ENGLISH LAW......Page 84 VI. SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT: THE RELEVANCE OF SCENES À FAIRE......Page 87 VII. CONCLUSION......Page 90 Part 2: The Scope of Copyright Protection of User Interfaces......Page 93 I. INTRODUCTION......Page 95 II. COPYRIGHT PROTECTION OF USER INTERFACES IN THE USA: A SURVEY OF RECENT CASES AND DETERMINATION OF PROTECTABLE ELEMENTS......Page 97 III. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS ON USER INTERFACE PROTECTION IN THE USA AND ITS IMPACT ON UK SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT LAW......Page 107 IV. PROTECTION OF SCREEN DISPLAYS UNDER UK COPYRIGHT LAW......Page 110 V. POLICY/ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATIONS......Page 113 VI. CONCLUSION......Page 116 II. PROTECTION OF VIDEO GAMES IN THE USA......Page 117 III. PROTECTION OF VIDEO GAMES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM......Page 119 IV. CONCLUSION......Page 121 Part 3: Reverse Engineering and Defences......Page 123 I. INTRODUCTION......Page 125 II. THE SOFTWARE DIRECTIVE AND REVERSE ENGINEERING......Page 127 III. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOFTWARE DIRECTIVE IN THE CDPA......Page 133 IV. REVERSE ENGINEERING IN THE USA......Page 136 V. REVERSE ENGINEERING UNDER US AND UK COPYRIGHT LAWS:POINTS OF CONTRAST......Page 145 VI. COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENTS......Page 149 VII. CONCLUSION......Page 154 II. SECTION 29 CDPA: FAIR DEALING FOR RESEARCH AND PRIVATE STUDY AND ITS CONTINUED RELEVANCE FOR UK SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT LAW......Page 157 III. BACK-UP COPIES......Page 166 IV. ERROR-CORRECTION AND MAINTENANCE......Page 167 V. MISCELLANEOUS EXCEPTIONS: OTHER PERMITTED ACTS......Page 169 VI. CONCLUSION......Page 174 Part 4: Challenges for the Future......Page 177 II. COPYRIGHT ISSUES AND THE WWW: APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CDPA......Page 179 III. THE DIGITAL AGENDA......Page 184 IV. CONCLUSION......Page 189 II. DEFINITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE......Page 191 III. COPYRIGHT PROTECTION OF DATABASES......Page 192 IV. THE FUTURE OF COMPUTER-GENERATED WORKS......Page 193 V. THE NEW DATABASE RIGHT......Page 194 VI. IMPACT OF DATABASE COPYRIGHT PROVISIONS ON SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTION......Page 195 VII. CONCLUSION......Page 198 II. SHRINK-WRAP LICENSING......Page 199 III. IMPLIED LICENCES AND USERS’ RIGHTS IN SOFTWARE TRANSACTIONS......Page 214 IV. CONCLUSION......Page 224 11. General Conclusion......Page 227 II. THE DIGITAL AGENDA......Page 228 IV. THE INTERFACE BETWEEN CONTRACT AND COPYRIGHT......Page 229 Appendix......Page 231 Index......Page 269 "This work analyses the scope of copyright protection for computer software in the United Kingdom, and examines challenges for the future. The work presents the case for the adoption and application of infringement methodology emanating from the courts in the United States, resulting in a narrower scope of protection than is presently argued for by many UK academics, practitioners and judges alike. The work makes a careful evaluation of the efficacy of the various prevailing tests for infringement of copyright in software and their progenies, suggesting an improved formula and advocating the utility of limiting doctrines to assist in the determination of substantial similarity of particular non-literal software elements, user interfaces and screen display protection. The monograph also contains a detailed study of reverse engineering, copyright defences, permitted acts, database protection and the copyright-contract interface in the context of computer software, not omitting crucial discussions of the internet, digital dissemination and the impact of recent treaty and legislative initiatives on British copyright law. As such it will be an important resource for practitioners, lecturers and students alike."--Bloomsbury Publishing Annotation This work analyses the scope of copyright protection for computer software in the United Kingdom,and examines challenges for the future. The work presents the case for the adoption and application of infringement methodology emanating from the courts in the United States, resulting in a narrower scope of protection than is presently argued for by many UK academics, practitioners and judges alike. The work makes a careful evaluation of the efficacy of the various prevailing tests for infringement of copyright in software and their progenies, suggesting an improved formula and advocating the utility of limiting doctrines to assist in the determination of substantial similarity of particular non-literal software elements, user interfaces and screen display protection. The monograph also contains a detailed study of reverse engineering, copyright defences, permitted acts, database protection and the copyright-contract interface in the context of computer software, not omitting crucial discussions of the internet, digital dissemination and the impact of recent treaty and legislative initiatives on British copyright law. As such it will be an important resource for practitioners, lecturers and students alike This work analyses the scope of copyright protection for computer software in the United Kingdom, and examines challenges for the future. The work presents the case for the adoption and application of infringement methodology emanating from the courts in the United States, resulting in a narrower scope of protection than is presently argued for by many UK academics, practitioners and judges alike. The work makes a careful evaluation of the efficacy of the various prevailing tests for infringement of copyright in software and their progenies, suggesting an improved formula and advocating the utility of limiting doctrines to assist in the determination of substantial similarity of particular non-literal software elements, user interfaces and screen display protection. The monograph also contains a detailed study of reverse engineering, copyright defences, permitted acts, database protection and the copyright-contract interface in the context of computer software, including crucial discussions of the internet, digital dissemination and the impact of recent treaty and legislative initiatives on British copyright law. As such it will be an important resource for practitioners, lecturers and students alike.