Copyright protection

Posted Aug 25, 2012 17:11 UTC (Sat) by man_ls (guest, #15091)
In reply to: Copyright protection by giraffedata
Parent article: Mobile patent wars: Google goes on the attack

Interesting problem. The Berne Convention doesn't say, as it doesn't seem to apply to software. 17 USC, which apparently covers computer programs (although I can't find them explicity mentioned), makes no distinctions with other works:

Copyright in a work created on or after January 1, 1978, subsists from its creation and, except as provided by the following subsections, endures for a term consisting of the life of the author and 70 years after the author’s death. [...] In the case of an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made for hire, the copyright endures for a term of 95 years from the year of its first publication, or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first"

I suppose it is similar in the relevant EU Directive.