Computer Programs

United States Copyright Office

Circular 61

COMPUTER PROGRAMS

DEFINITION

A `computer program’ is a set of statements or instructions to be used directly or indirectly in a computer in order to bring about a certain result.

WHAT TO SEND

   — A completed application form (typically Form TX);

   — A $20.00 nonrefundable filing fee payable to the Register of Copyrights; and 

   — One copy of identifying material (See "Deposit Requirements" below). 

Mail all of the above material in the same envelope or package addressed to: 

   Register of Copyrights

   Library of Congress

   Washington, D.C. 20559-6000

EXTENT OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

Copyright protection extends to all of the copyrightable expression embodied in the computer program. Copyright protection is not available for ideas, program logic, algorithms, systems, methods, concepts, or layouts.

COMPLETING FORM TX

NOTE: These points do not cover all of the required information on the application. Be sure to refer to the instructions on the Form TX before completing the application.

Space 2. In the "Nature of Authorship" space describe the copyrightable authorship in the computer program for which registration is sought. Acceptable statements include: "computer program," "entire text of computer program," "entire program code," "text of user’s manual and computer program," etc. (Do not refer to design, physical form, hardware, algorithm; do not describe the program’s features or functions.)

Space 6. Complete this space only if the computer program contains a substantial amount of previously published, registered, or public domain material (such as, subroutines, modules, or textual images) or if the work was developed using an underlying computer program or authoring tool. Space 6a may state "previous version." Typical examples of descriptions of new material for space 6b include "revised computer program", "editorial revisions," "revisions and additional text of computer program," "new programming text," etc. (Do not refer to debugging, error corrections, new functions of the revised program, or other unregistrable elements.)

DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS

I. Computer Programs Without Trade Secrets

For published or unpublished computer programs, send one copy of identifying portions of the program (first 25 and last 25 pages of source code), reproduced in a form visually perceptible without the aid of a machine or device, either on paper or in microform, together with the page or equivalent unit containing the copyright notice, if any.

For a program less than 50 pages in length, send a visually perceptible copy of the entire source code. For a revised version of a program which has been previously published, previously registered, or which is in the public domain, if the revisions occur throughout the entire program, send the page containing the copyright notice, if any, and the first 25 and last 25 pages of source code. If the revisions are not contained in the first and last 25 pages, send any 50 pages representative of the revised material in the new program, together with the page or equivalent unit containing the copyright notice for the revised version, if any.

Where an applicant is unable or unwilling to deposit source code, he/she must state in writing that the work as deposited in object code contains copyrightable authorship. The Office will send a letter stating that registration has been made under its rule of doubt and warning that it has not determined the existence of copyrightable authorship.

If a published user’s manual (or other printed documentation) accompanies the computer program, deposit one copy of the user’s manual along with one copy of the identifying portion of the program.

For HyperCard computer programs created in scripted language, the script is considered the equivalent of source code. Thus the same number of pages of script would be required as is required for source code. Reproductions of on-screen text, buttons, and commands are not an appropriate substitute for this source code deposit. Where a HyperCard program contains trade secrets, deposit script pages meeting the requirements of part II below.

II. Computer Programs Containing Trade Secrets

Where a computer program contains trade secret material, include a cover letter stating that the claim contains trade secrets, along with the page containing the copyright notice, if any, plus one of the following:

A. Entirely new computer programs:

   — first and last 25 pages of source code with portions containing trade secrets blocked out; or first and last 10 pages of source code alone, with no blocked-out portions; or

   — first and last 25 pages of object code plus any 10 or more consecutive pages of source code, with no blocked- out portions; or

   — for programs 50 pages or less in length, entire source code with trade secret portions blocked out.

B. Revised computer programs:

   — if the revisions are present in the first and last 25 pages, any one of the 4 options above, as appropriate; or

   — if the revisions are not present in the first and the last 25 pages:

   — 20 pages of source code containing the revisions with no blocked out portions, or

   — any 50 pages of source code containing the revisions with some portions blocked out.

NOTE: Whenever portions of code are blocked out, the following requirements must be met:

   (1) the blocked out portions must be proportionately less than the material remaining; and

   (2) the visible portion must represent an appreciable amount of original computer code.

SCREEN DISPLAYS

Copyright protection for computer screen displays has been an issue in the courts during the past few years, and questions were raised about separate registration for screen displays. Although some courts affirmed in several video-game cases that pictorial and graphic screen displays may be separately registered, other courts offered disparate opinions regarding screen displays.

After a public hearing on the subject and thorough review of public comments received about registration for screen displays, the Copyright Office announced its decision in June 1988 to require that all copyrightable expression embodied in a computer program owned by the same claimant, including computer screen displays, be registered on a single application form.

This decision also applies to videogame displays; these claims will be treated the same as other claims that include authorship in a computer program and screen displays. A single registration will be made for the computer program and any related audiovisual authorship owned by the same claimant. Separate registrations will not be made.

The Copyright Office has consistently believed that a single registration is sufficient to protect the copyright in a computer program, including related screen displays, without a separate registration for screen displays or reference to the displays in the application. An application may give a general description in the "nature of authorship" space, such as "entire work" or "computer program." This description will cover any copyrightable authorship contained in the computer program and screen displays, regardless of whether identifying material for the screens is deposited.

Applicants who previously made a single registration for a computer program should be assured that the registration covers all the copyrightable content of the computer program. The Office will not make a new basic registration or a supplementary registration to allow a separate claim in the screen displays. Neither will the Office accept identifying material for the screens contained in any previously registered computer programs.

HOW TO REGISTER COMPUTER PROGRAMS CONTAINING COPYRIGHTABLE SCREEN DISPLAYS

A single registration should be made in the class appropriate to the predominant authorship. Because the computer program is a literary work, literary authorship will predominate in most works, including many in which there are screen graphics. Therefore, registration will usually be appropriate on Form TX. If pictorial or graphic authorship predominates, registration may be made on Form PA as an audiovisual work.

The registration will extend to any related copyrightable screens, regardless of whether identifying material for the screens is deposited. If identifying material for screen displays is deposited and if there is a specific claim in screens, the identifying material will be examined for copyrightability.

To register a computer program and its related screen displays:

    * Select the application form appropriate for the predominant authorship;

    * Refer to the chart below to complete space 2 of the application and to determine whether to file identifying material for the screen displays. __ HOW TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION    WHAT TO DEPOSIT

Space 2   (Nature of Authorship)   ID Material (In addition to Required

   Source code)

Option 1   "Entire work"  or "Entire    You may choose either to deposit or ID

  computer program"   material for screens or you may choose

   not to deposit ID material for screens.

Option 2   "Entire computer program     You must deposit ID material for screens

    including text of screen displays" or    If there is a specific claim in the screens,

   "Entire computer program including    the screen identifying material will

   audiovisual material" or "Entire computer   be examined for copyrightability.

   program including artwork on screen

   displays"

   Note: The description of authorship on the    Note: Identifying material for screen

   application should not refer to elements    displays should consist of printouts,

   such ads "menu screens", "structure,    photographs, or drawings clearly re-

   sequence and organization," "layout,"    vealing the screens. For works that

   "format" or the like.    are predominately audio-visuals, such as

    videogames, 1/2 "format" inch VHS

    videotapes is acceptable. All screen

    identifying material will be examined for

    copyrightability. If screens are reproduced

    in a manual, the manual will suffice as

   identifying material. _ NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

For works first published on and after March 1, 1989, use of the copyright notice is optional, though highly recommended. Before March 1, 1989, the use of the notice was mandatory on all published works, and any work first published before that date must bear a notice or risk loss of copyright protection.

Use of the notice is recommended because it informs the public that the work is protected by copyright, identifies the copyright owner, and shows the year of first publication. Furthermore, in the event that a work is infringed, if the work carries a proper notice, the court will not allow a defendant to claim "innocent infringement"_that is, that he or she did not realize that the work is protected. (A successful innocent infringement claim may result in a reduction in damages that the copyright owner would otherwise receive.)

The use of the copyright notice is the responsibility of the copyright owner and does not require advance permission from, or registration with, the Copyright Office.

FORM OF COPYRIGHT NOTICE FOR COPIES OTHER THAN PHONORECORDS

The notice for visually perceptible copies should contain all of the following three elements:

1. The copyright symbol (the letter C in a circle), or the word "Copyright," or the abbreviation "Copr."

2. The year of first publication of the work. In the case of compilations or derivative works incorporating previously published material, the year date of first publication of the compilation or derivative work is sufficient.

3. The name of the owner of copyright in the work, or an abbreviation by which the name can be recognized, or a generally known alternative designation of the owner.

Example: Copyright 1995 John Doe

LOCATION OF COPYRIGHT NOTICE FOR WORKS REPRODUCED IN MACHINE-READABLE COPIES

Section 201.20(g), 37 CFR

For works reproduced in machine-readable copies (such as magnetic tapes or disks, punched cards, or the like), from which the work cannot ordinarily be visually perceived except with the aid of a machine or device, the following constitute examples of acceptable methods of affixation and position of notice:

(1) A notice embodied in the copies in machine-readable form in such a manner that on visually perceptible printouts it appears either with or near the title, or at the end of the work;

(2) A notice that is displayed at the user’s terminal at sign on;

(3) A notice that is continuously on terminal display; or

(4) A legible notice reproduced durably, so as to withstand normal use, on a gummed or other label securely affixed to the copies or to a box, reel, cartridge, cassette, or other container used as a permanent receptacle for the copies.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF REGISTRATION

A copyright registration is effective on the date the Copyright Office receives all of the required elements in acceptable form, regardless of how long it then takes to process the application and mail the certificate of registration. The time the Copyright Office requires to process an application varies, depending on the amount of material the Office is receiving and the personnel available. It must also be kept in mind that it may take several days for mailed material to reach the Copyright Office and for the certificate of registration to reach the recipient.

If you apply for copyright registration, you will not receive an acknowledgement that your application has been received (the Office receives more than 600,000 applications annually), but you can expect:

   — A letter or telephone call from a copyright examiner if further information is needed;

   — A certificate of registration to indicate the work has been registered, or if the application cannot be accepted, a letter explaining why it has been rejected.

You may not receive either of these until 120 days have passed.

If you want to know when the Copyright Office receives your material, send it by registered or certified mail and request a return receipt.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To request applications, circulars, and other publications, call the Forms and Publications Hotline 24 hours a day, (202) 707-9100, and leave a recorded message, or write:

   Publications Section, LM-455

   Copyright Office

   Library of Congress

   Washington, D.C. 20559

To speak with an Information Specialist or to request further information, call (202) 707-3000 (TTY: (202) 707-6737 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, except Federal holidays.

Frequently requested Copyright Office circulars, announcements, regulations, and other related materials are available over the Internet. These documents may be examined and downloaded through the Library of Congress campus-wide information system, LC MARVEL. To access, gopher to marvel.loc.gov, port 70. Then select the copyright menu. Copyright information also is available through the World Wide Web at https://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright. The World Wide Web address offers information created by the Copyright Office and links to other copyright resources created elsewhere.

***Last update 12/15/95***

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