{"id":13171,"date":"2022-08-20T16:17:39","date_gmt":"2022-08-20T16:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=13171"},"modified":"2022-11-15T07:53:29","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T07:53:29","slug":"it-and-copyright","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/","title":{"rendered":"IT and Copyright"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#How_IT_Protected\" title=\"How IT Protected\">How IT Protected<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#Establishing_Copyright\" title=\"Establishing Copyright\">Establishing Copyright<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#Infringement_Principles\" title=\"Infringement Principles\">Infringement Principles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#Acts_of_Infringment\" title=\"Acts of Infringment\">Acts of Infringment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#Rights_Created\" title=\"Rights Created\">Rights Created<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#Exceptions\" title=\"Exceptions\">Exceptions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#Databases\" title=\"Databases\">Databases<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#Special_Database_RIght\" title=\"Special Database RIght\">Special Database RIght<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/it-and-copyright\/#Nature_of_Rights\" title=\"Nature of Rights\">Nature of Rights<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_IT_Protected\"><\/span>How IT Protected<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Computer programs and software are protected by the law of copyright.An EU Directive in 1993 required the protection of computer programs under copyright protection law.\u00a0 Although they were already recognised under Irish copyright law, the 1994 Regulations provided specifically for the protection of computer programmes by way of copyright and related rights.<\/p>\n<p>The instructions in the program are set in code or a format which is to be read by the computer. Therefore, a program is capable of expression in a written or literary format.<\/p>\n<p>An original program that is the author or programmer\u2019s own creation is protected by copyright. Materials used in the preparation of the program may also be protected by copyright. The same principles as apply to copyright for literary works apply to copyright for software and computer programs. The ideas behind and principles underlying the work are not protected.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Establishing_Copyright\"><\/span>Establishing Copyright<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The computer copyright must be the product of the author&#8217;s own creation. It is assumed that the author is a human individual. A computer-generated work may enjoy copyright for the person who organised the operation of the computer program, who would be an author for this purpose. The object code is protected as literary work, notwithstanding that it may not exist in publishable form. It may, in any event, constitute the use of the original source code.<\/p>\n<p>Where the programmer has been commissioned to write the source code, the commissioner will not necessarily own the copyright. The commissioner may have a license only and may be obliged to pay royalty under the terms of the commissioning contract.<\/p>\n<p>An employer becomes entitled to copyright in programs created by the employee in the course of his duties.\u00a0 The employment contract may provide otherwise.\u00a0 An independent contractor may be obliged to hold the copyright for the benefit of the person who has contracted with him.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Infringement_Principles\"><\/span>Infringement Principles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The same principles apply to assessing an infringement of copyright in computer programs as apply generally to literary works. If the same result is achieved by independent means, there is no infringement.\u00a0 Substantial copying is required for infringement.<\/p>\n<p>There is no copyright at the level of the concept or function of the programme. However, non-literal infringement of the program may take place if the structure and overall high-level sense of the program have been copied.\u00a0 Similar structure, form and \u201ctouch and feel\u201d may demonstrate copying.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Acts_of_Infringment\"><\/span>Acts of Infringment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most exploitation of a computer program without the requisite consent will constitute a breach of copyright. Infringement would include<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>reproduction or copying the program, where a substantial part is copied;<\/li>\n<li>making the program available to the public;<\/li>\n<li>adapting the program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Reproduction includes storing the material in other media. Renting copies also constitutes infringement. Secondary infringement would include distribution.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em>Transient or incidental copies, which are required for the use of the work by persons to whom it has been lawfully made available, do not constitute infringement. This is to ensure that temporary caching is not an infringement.<\/p>\n<p>The preparatory material for programs by way of source codes, logical algorithms, designs and programming materials may be protected by literary copyright.\u00a0 When converted into a low level machine-readable language, the program exists in machine code or object code.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rights_Created\"><\/span>Rights Created<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Software belongs to its creator or author. The general presumption is that where software is developed by an employee, it belongs to the employer. Where software is commissioned, it belongs to the person or company creating it, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary.<\/p>\n<p>Software licensing operates in much the same way as copyright licensing. A licence may be exclusive or, much more commonly, non-exclusive. See the Information Technology section of this guide in relation to software licensing.<\/p>\n<p>The owner of the copyright in software has the right to do certain restricted acts and to authorise others to do so in much the same way as other literary copyright owners. They include<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>copying and distributing the software and making it available to the public. This right is one of the principal rights and gives the right to sell and exploit the software. Copying can take place through any means or media;<\/li>\n<li>making an adaptation of the software; the right to make an adaptation covers the creation of other versions or adaptations, including translation into different computer codes and languages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exceptions\"><\/span>Exceptions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The legislation immunizes certain things which would otherwise be an infringement of copyright. A person lawfully using copyright may make a backup, which is necessary for lawful use. The copying of a program in the course of being run, which is necessary to achieve interoperability, is not a breach. \u00a0There are conditions;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the act must be lawful<\/li>\n<li>the information necessary to achieve interoperability has not been previously made available;<\/li>\n<li>the acts are limited to the parts of the program required to achieve interoperability;<\/li>\n<li>information may not be used for any other purpose other than interoperability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The exception does not permit use for the purpose of the development of a substantially similar computer program. The purpose is to permit software to be used in conjunction with hardware and another program.<\/p>\n<p>It is not an infringement of copyright in a computer program for a lawful user to make a copy of the whole or part of the program or translate or adapt it where necessary for normal use.<\/p>\n<p>It is not an infringement for a user to observe, test or study the functioning of a program to determine the ideas and principles which lie behind it, provided that it is done while performing the act of loading, displaying, running transmission of soaring a programme in which he is authorised to do<\/p>\n<p>A lawful user may observe, study or test a program in order to determine the underlying ideas and principles. There is a statutory right to reverse-engineer in order to produce interoperable programs.\u00a0 This may be restricted by the terms of a license.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Databases\"><\/span>Databases<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A Database is a compilation of information, which by reason of its selection and arrangement, constitutes an original intellectual creation by its author. Compilations may be literary works, which is a separate basis of protection to the database right A database would qualify for copyright if it is the author\u2019s original creation.<\/p>\n<p>The Copyright Act protects the selection or arrangement of content in a database.\u00a0 The database must have an intellectual element so that a mere organisation which is numerically or automatically made is likely to lack the necessary skill to qualify for protection.<\/p>\n<p>Compilations may readily attract copyright.\u00a0 If there is an element of skill in the selection, the requisite criteria for copyright will usually be met.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Special_Database_RIght\"><\/span>Special Database RIght<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU law protects databases. There is a special 15-year database right.\u00a0 The owner of the database right may extract or reuse parts of the database or authorise others to do so.\u00a0 A substantial extraction or multiple extractions of insubstantial parts may constitute infringement if the use is prejudicial to the interest of the owner.<\/p>\n<p>Where a database does not qualify as an original work for literary copyright, it may qualify for separate database protection. In this context, the database is a collection of independent data or material arranged in a systematic or methodical way which is individually accessible by any means. This does not include computer programs used in the making of the database.<\/p>\n<p>The database right covers electronic and non-electronic databases. The work must be systematically and methodically organized. Substantial investment must have been undertaken in obtaining, verifying and presenting the contents. Financial and human technical resources must be invested.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nature_of_Rights\"><\/span>Nature of Rights<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Databases are a collection of data or other material arranged in a systematic way and individually accessible by electronic or other means. What is compiled may or may not constitute copyright material protectable in itself.\u00a0 The database may be electronic or manual.\u00a0 There must be some skill and investment of time in compiling the database. The author of the database is the person who creates it.<\/p>\n<p>The database owner enjoys the right to prevent reproduction, translation, adaption arrangement or other alternation, public distribution, public communication, performance or display. It is an infringement to make the work available to the public, adapt or copy the work.<\/p>\n<p>Lawful users may use and extract insubstantial parts of the database.\u00a0 This is valid, notwithstanding a contract to the contrary.\u00a0 However, other copyrights must not be infringed.<\/p>\n<p>The database right is separate from any copyright in the underlying content. The database permits the holder to do or authorise the following;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>extraction; being the permanent or temporary transfer of all\u00a0 or a substantial part of the medium;<\/li>\n<li>reuse;<\/li>\n<li>making the content available to the public.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The database right lasts for 15 years. However, a substantial change, including new additions, alterations and operations, may comprise a new database.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-13171\" data-postid=\"13171\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-13171 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How IT Protected Computer programs and software are protected by the law of copyright.An EU Directive in 1993 required the protection of computer programs under copyright protection law.\u00a0 Although they were already recognised under Irish copyright law, the 1994 Regulations provided specifically for the protection of computer programmes by way of copyright and related rights. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[171],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13171"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13171"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20396,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13171\/revisions\/20396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}