Software and Intellectual Property Protection: Copyright and Patent Issues for Computer and Legal Professionals

by Bernard A. Galler

Overview

How has the legal system used its traditional body of copyright and patent law to protect rights in computer software? The last 15 years have changed the entire landscape with regard to the creation and protection of software as intellectual property. Written by a computer expert with extensive participation in some of the most important software trials of the period, this book invites you to think critically about significant software issues and learn about the legal pitfalls surrounding software development in the industry today.

The book is organized around various legal issues raised by both plaintiffs and defendants in copyright litigation, and the problems of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in dealing with the rapid proliferation of applications for software-related patents. The author explains important terms and concepts in software litigation such as infringement, substantial similarity, reverse engineering, the merger defense, and look and feel. A succinct, readable survey for computer professionals, nonlegal academics, and lawyers who need a fast summary of the critical issues and cases in software and intellectual property matters.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899309743
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/23/1995
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

BERNARD A. GALLER is Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan, and has served as an expert witness in major intellectual property cases during the last 15 years. He is founder and president of the Software Patent Institute, founding editor-in-chief of the Annals of the History of Computing, and a former president of the Association for Computing Machinery. Among his other books are The Language of Computers (1962) and A View of Programming Languages (with A. J. Perlis, 1970).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Legal Issues
Idea or Expression?
Software Patents
The "Tangible Medium"
Validity and Scope
Infringement
Substantial Similarity
"Look and Feel"
Reverse Engineering
The Clean Room Approach
Where Are We Now?
Appendix A: The Computer; Software; Translators; Operating Systems; The User Interface; Macros, Parameters, and Microcode
Appendix B: An Example of a Patent
Recommended Sources for Extended Reading
Index

Editorial Reviews

For computer professionals with no legal background and lawyers who need a quick summary, explains the copyright and patent issues and pitfalls surrounding software development. Draws from arguments raised by plaintiffs and defendants in litigation and the problems of the US Patent Office dealing with the flood of applications for software related patents. The aim is to inform software developers of how to avoid problems by knowing what can and cannot be protected. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews