Copyright regulation of relations with regard to software: Current state and perspectives

Abstract

The legal regulation of relations about software (computer programs) is conducted mainly in two directions: copyright and patent law. But despite lengthy discussions in scientific circles in almost all countries, there is no final and single solution to this issue. Historically, the model of copyright protection of the object under study offers a cheaper and faster procedure than the model of protection of software by patent law. Patent protection requires a rather expensive and lengthy examination of software for world (absolute) novelty, during which the object itself may become obsolete and become unpopular with potential users. Therefore, the copyright regime for the protection of software has received preferential recognition. Accordingly, the article attempts to investigate the problems of the existing in the world copyright model of software protection and the possibility of patenting them.