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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Directive on the Legal Protection of Computer Programs
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A quick definition of Directive on the Legal Protection of Computer Programs:
The Directive on the Legal Protection of Computer Programs is a law created by the European Commission in 1991. It says that computer software should be protected by copyright, which means that people cannot copy or use it without permission. This law was made to make sure that all countries in the European Commission have the same rules for protecting software. It also says that software needs to be original to be protected by copyright. This law is also called the Computer Programs Directive or Software Directive.
A more thorough explanation:
The Directive on the Legal Protection of Computer Programs is a law created by the European Commission in 1991. Its purpose is to protect computer software by copyright, which means that the creator of the software has the exclusive right to control how it is used and distributed.
Before this law, some countries protected software with patents or other types of legal rights. The Directive standardized the rules for copyright protection across the European Union.
To qualify for copyright protection, software must meet a certain level of originality. This means that it must be more than just a simple list of instructions, but must have some creative element to it.
For example, a program that simply adds two numbers together would not be eligible for copyright protection. However, a program that uses a unique algorithm to solve a complex problem would be eligible.
The Directive has helped to ensure that software creators are able to protect their work and receive compensation for its use. It has also made it easier for software to be distributed across the European Union, since the rules for copyright protection are the same in all member countries.
Directive on the Coordination of Certain Rules Concerning Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Applicable to Satellite Broadcasting and Cable Retransmission | Directive on the Legal Protection of Databases