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| Patent Group | |
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| Computer Software and Intellectual Property Law | ||
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Computer Software and Copyright1. WHAT IS A COPYRIGHT?The term "Copyright" describes a bundle of rights granted by the U.S. Constitution to the authors of "original works of authorship" including literary (software is considered a "literary work"), dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. These rights include the legal right to exclude others, for a designated time, from copying, selling, performing, displaying, or making derivative versions of a work of authorship.1.1 How Long Does it Last?Generally, a copyright will last 50 years beyond the death of the author. For works made for hire, discussed later, the copyright expires 75 years after publication, or 100 years after creation, whichever comes first.* Written by John E. Wehrli, formerly of the Patent Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Available as LBL Report No. 38995. |
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