{ "name": "The law on copyright in a game's code", "title": "The law on copyright in a game's code", "kind": "terms-board", "url": "https://sellgamesourcecode.com/datasets/game-code-copyright-law/", "csv": "https://sellgamesourcecode.com/datasets/game-code-copyright-law.csv", "markdown": "https://sellgamesourcecode.com/datasets/game-code-copyright-law/index.md", "computed_at": "2026-10-28", "license": "https://sellgamesourcecode.com/terms", "headline": "10 US and UK rules on copyright in a game's source code, read 28 October 2026.", "quotes": [ "10 US and UK rules on copyright in a game's source code, read 28 October 2026.", "Where the rule applies, by rule: United Kingdom 5 of 10, US federal 5 of 10 (10 rules, read 28 October 2026).", "What the rule covers, by rule: what copyright protects in a program 4 of 10, what a lawful user may do without the owner 3 of 10, registering a program and depositing its code 2 of 10, who is the author 1 of 10 (10 rules, read 28 October 2026).", "What it asks of the owner, by rule: not stated 7 of 10, deposit identifying portions of the code 2 of 10, accept acts a contract cannot forbid 1 of 10 (10 rules, read 28 October 2026).", "The rule, in its words, by rule: stated 10 of 10 (10 rules, read 28 October 2026)." ], "citation": "\"The law on copyright in a game's code\", updated 2026-10-28, https://sellgamesourcecode.com/datasets/game-code-copyright-law/.", "national": { "n": 10, "unit": "rules", "documents": 10, "published_sources": 10, "named_sources": 10 }, "board": { "type": "clauses", "noun": { "one": "rule", "many": "rules" }, "document": { "one": "statute or Copyright Office page", "many": "statutes and Copyright Office pages" }, "fields": [ { "id": "jurisdiction", "label": "Where the rule applies", "counts": { "us-federal": 5, "uk": 5 }, "values": [ { "value": "us-federal", "text": "US federal" }, { "value": "uk", "text": "United Kingdom" } ] }, { "id": "covers", "label": "What the rule covers", "counts": { "protection": 4, "registration": 2, "permitted-acts": 3, "authorship": 1 }, "values": [ { "value": "protection", "text": "what copyright protects in a program" }, { "value": "registration", "text": "registering a program and depositing its code" }, { "value": "authorship", "text": "who is the author" }, { "value": "permitted-acts", "text": "what a lawful user may do without the owner" } ] }, { "id": "owner_step", "label": "What it asks of the owner", "counts": { "not-stated": 7, "deposit": 2, "accept": 1 }, "values": [ { "value": "nothing", "text": "nothing: protection is automatic" }, { "value": "deposit", "text": "deposit identifying portions of the code" }, { "value": "accept", "text": "accept acts a contract cannot forbid" } ] }, { "id": "clause", "label": "The rule, in its words", "counts": { "stated": 10 }, "values": [ { "value": "stated", "text": "stated" } ], "clause": true } ], "lead": { "type": "count", "field": null, "value": null, "n": 10, "of": 10, "label": "Rules on the register" }, "vendors": [ { "name": "17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "us-federal", "text": "US federal", "documents": [ { "document": "Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "value": "us-federal", "quote": "Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "protection", "text": "what copyright protects in a program", "documents": [ { "document": "Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "value": "protection", "quote": "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." } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "not-stated", "text": "not stated", "documents": [ { "document": "Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "value": "not-stated", "quote": "" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or…", "documents": [ { "document": "Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "value": "stated", "quote": "it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program" } ] } } }, { "name": "37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "us-federal", "text": "US federal", "documents": [ { "document": "eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "value": "us-federal", "quote": "Subchapter A Part 202 § 202.20" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "registration", "text": "registering a program and depositing its code", "documents": [ { "document": "eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "value": "registration", "quote": "Computer programs and databases embodied in machine-readable copies other than CD-ROM format." } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "deposit", "text": "deposit identifying portions of the code", "documents": [ { "document": "eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "value": "deposit", "quote": "“identifying portions” shall mean one of the following" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "The first and last 25 pages or equivalent units of the source code if reproduced on paper", "documents": [ { "document": "eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "value": "stated", "quote": "The first and last 25 pages or equivalent units of the source code if reproduced on paper" } ] } } }, { "name": "CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "uk", "text": "United Kingdom", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "value": "uk", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 296A" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "permitted-acts", "text": "what a lawful user may do without the owner", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "value": "permitted-acts", "quote": "Where a person has the use of a computer program under an agreement" } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "accept", "text": "accept acts a contract cannot forbid", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "value": "accept", "quote": "any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit or restrict" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit…", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "value": "stated", "quote": "any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit or restrict" } ] } } }, { "name": "CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "uk", "text": "United Kingdom", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "value": "uk", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 3" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "protection", "text": "what copyright protects in a program", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "value": "protection", "quote": "“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written, spoken or sung" } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "not-stated", "text": "not stated", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "value": "not-stated", "quote": "" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written…", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "value": "stated", "quote": "“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written, spoken or sung, and accordingly includes" } ] } } }, { "name": "CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "uk", "text": "United Kingdom", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "value": "uk", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 50A" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "permitted-acts", "text": "what a lawful user may do without the owner", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "value": "permitted-acts", "quote": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program to make any back up copy of it" } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "not-stated", "text": "not stated", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "value": "not-stated", "quote": "" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program…", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "value": "stated", "quote": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program to make any back up copy of it which it is necessary for him to have for the purposes of his lawful use." } ] } } }, { "name": "CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "uk", "text": "United Kingdom", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "value": "uk", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 50B" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "permitted-acts", "text": "what a lawful user may do without the owner", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "value": "permitted-acts", "quote": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program expressed in a low level language" } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "not-stated", "text": "not stated", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "value": "not-stated", "quote": "" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program…", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "value": "stated", "quote": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program expressed in a low level language" } ] } } }, { "name": "CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "uk", "text": "United Kingdom", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "value": "uk", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 9" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "authorship", "text": "who is the author", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "value": "authorship", "quote": "the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken" } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "not-stated", "text": "not stated", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "value": "not-stated", "quote": "" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the…", "documents": [ { "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "value": "stated", "quote": "the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken" } ] } } }, { "name": "Circular 61, registering a computer program", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "us-federal", "text": "US federal", "documents": [ { "document": "U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "value": "us-federal", "quote": "Copyright Office fees are subject to change" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "registration", "text": "registering a program and depositing its code", "documents": [ { "document": "U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "value": "registration", "quote": "a registration for a specific version of a program does not cover" } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "deposit", "text": "deposit identifying portions of the code", "documents": [ { "document": "U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "value": "deposit", "quote": "submit one copy of the first twenty-five pages\nand last twenty-five pages of the source code" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "Copyrightable source code owned by a third party.", "documents": [ { "document": "U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "value": "stated", "quote": "Copyrightable source code owned by a third party." } ] } } }, { "name": "Compendium III s.721, source and object code", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "us-federal", "text": "US federal", "documents": [ { "document": "Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "value": "us-federal", "quote": "Copyright Office views source code and object code as two representations of the same work." } ] }, "covers": { "value": "protection", "text": "what copyright protects in a program", "documents": [ { "document": "Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "value": "protection", "quote": "Source code is a set of statements and instructions written by a human being using a particular programming language" } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "not-stated", "text": "not stated", "documents": [ { "document": "Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "value": "not-stated", "quote": "" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "As a general rule, the Office will not issue separate registrations for the source code…", "documents": [ { "document": "Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "value": "stated", "quote": "As a general rule, the Office will not issue separate registrations for the source code and object code versions of the same program." } ] } } }, { "name": "Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office", "answers": { "jurisdiction": { "value": "us-federal", "text": "US federal", "documents": [ { "document": "U.S. Copyright Office literary works page", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "value": "us-federal", "quote": "The Copyright Act defines “literary works” as “works, other than audiovisual works" } ] }, "covers": { "value": "protection", "text": "what copyright protects in a program", "documents": [ { "document": "U.S. Copyright Office literary works page", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "value": "protection", "quote": "The Copyright Act defines “literary works” as “works, other than audiovisual works, expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia" } ] }, "owner_step": { "value": "not-stated", "text": "not stated", "documents": [ { "document": "U.S. Copyright Office literary works page", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "value": "not-stated", "quote": "" } ] }, "clause": { "value": "stated", "text": "expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia", "documents": [ { "document": "U.S. Copyright Office literary works page", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "value": "stated", "quote": "expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia" } ] } } } ] }, "subject_kind": "rule", "rows": [ { "subject": "17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "document": "Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "us-federal", "answer_text": "US federal", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government", "text_sha256": "ec93a08f2aef78393077b73184d250681c3181f69997fab25b56dc2610e83306" }, { "subject": "17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "document": "Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office", "question": "covers", "answer": "protection", "answer_text": "what copyright protects in a program", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "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.", "text_sha256": "ec93a08f2aef78393077b73184d250681c3181f69997fab25b56dc2610e83306" }, { "subject": "17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "document": "Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "not-stated", "answer_text": "not stated", "status": "not-stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 389,618 characters long.", "text_sha256": "ec93a08f2aef78393077b73184d250681c3181f69997fab25b56dc2610e83306" }, { "subject": "17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "document": "Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or…", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program", "text_sha256": "ec93a08f2aef78393077b73184d250681c3181f69997fab25b56dc2610e83306" }, { "subject": "37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "document": "eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "us-federal", "answer_text": "US federal", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Subchapter A Part 202 § 202.20", "text_sha256": "651efbbdf744fd436e9ba1b2862d438e2850952664c291e4f03fa62cd7c9dfd0" }, { "subject": "37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "document": "eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20", "question": "covers", "answer": "registration", "answer_text": "registering a program and depositing its code", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Computer programs and databases embodied in machine-readable copies other than CD-ROM format.", "text_sha256": "651efbbdf744fd436e9ba1b2862d438e2850952664c291e4f03fa62cd7c9dfd0" }, { "subject": "37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "document": "eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "deposit", "answer_text": "deposit identifying portions of the code", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "“identifying portions” shall mean one of the following", "text_sha256": "651efbbdf744fd436e9ba1b2862d438e2850952664c291e4f03fa62cd7c9dfd0" }, { "subject": "37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit", "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "document": "eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "The first and last 25 pages or equivalent units of the source code if reproduced on paper", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The first and last 25 pages or equivalent units of the source code if reproduced on paper", "text_sha256": "651efbbdf744fd436e9ba1b2862d438e2850952664c291e4f03fa62cd7c9dfd0" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "uk", "answer_text": "United Kingdom", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 296A", "text_sha256": "c49bb077485dfa44337aaee0f58347b9c3b3536e2629ba4aea96a1660c612224" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "covers", "answer": "permitted-acts", "answer_text": "what a lawful user may do without the owner", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Where a person has the use of a computer program under an agreement", "text_sha256": "c49bb077485dfa44337aaee0f58347b9c3b3536e2629ba4aea96a1660c612224" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "accept", "answer_text": "accept acts a contract cannot forbid", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit or restrict", "text_sha256": "c49bb077485dfa44337aaee0f58347b9c3b3536e2629ba4aea96a1660c612224" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit…", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit or restrict", "text_sha256": "c49bb077485dfa44337aaee0f58347b9c3b3536e2629ba4aea96a1660c612224" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "uk", "answer_text": "United Kingdom", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 3", "text_sha256": "df0d0c24f9ff54d9cde547923069ade64c52d5d6e8955d1fe2fa2e8a3706fe6c" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "covers", "answer": "protection", "answer_text": "what copyright protects in a program", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written, spoken or sung", "text_sha256": "df0d0c24f9ff54d9cde547923069ade64c52d5d6e8955d1fe2fa2e8a3706fe6c" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "not-stated", "answer_text": "not stated", "status": "not-stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 5,824 characters long.", "text_sha256": "df0d0c24f9ff54d9cde547923069ade64c52d5d6e8955d1fe2fa2e8a3706fe6c" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written…", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written, spoken or sung, and accordingly includes", "text_sha256": "df0d0c24f9ff54d9cde547923069ade64c52d5d6e8955d1fe2fa2e8a3706fe6c" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "uk", "answer_text": "United Kingdom", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 50A", "text_sha256": "42442daca0e6c9e1acb5a6c43e8679eff069a8bd858c51ef4908249ca53ccdb7" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "covers", "answer": "permitted-acts", "answer_text": "what a lawful user may do without the owner", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program to make any back up copy of it", "text_sha256": "42442daca0e6c9e1acb5a6c43e8679eff069a8bd858c51ef4908249ca53ccdb7" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "not-stated", "answer_text": "not stated", "status": "not-stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 5,281 characters long.", "text_sha256": "42442daca0e6c9e1acb5a6c43e8679eff069a8bd858c51ef4908249ca53ccdb7" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program…", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program to make any back up copy of it which it is necessary for him to have for the purposes of his lawful use.", "text_sha256": "42442daca0e6c9e1acb5a6c43e8679eff069a8bd858c51ef4908249ca53ccdb7" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "uk", "answer_text": "United Kingdom", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 50B", "text_sha256": "546a8dda6be2e2cf7df3c00aa67751f5764fbe23b2b29a268a651f91af7ec400" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "covers", "answer": "permitted-acts", "answer_text": "what a lawful user may do without the owner", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program expressed in a low level language", "text_sha256": "546a8dda6be2e2cf7df3c00aa67751f5764fbe23b2b29a268a651f91af7ec400" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "not-stated", "answer_text": "not stated", "status": "not-stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 5,976 characters long.", "text_sha256": "546a8dda6be2e2cf7df3c00aa67751f5764fbe23b2b29a268a651f91af7ec400" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program…", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program expressed in a low level language", "text_sha256": "546a8dda6be2e2cf7df3c00aa67751f5764fbe23b2b29a268a651f91af7ec400" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "uk", "answer_text": "United Kingdom", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-08", "quote": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 9", "text_sha256": "8d6738e9c814c688f367163a99ea800089043cde50594c631bdb29a557f24ac2" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "covers", "answer": "authorship", "answer_text": "who is the author", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-08", "quote": "the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken", "text_sha256": "8d6738e9c814c688f367163a99ea800089043cde50594c631bdb29a557f24ac2" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "not-stated", "answer_text": "not stated", "status": "not-stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-08", "quote": "The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-08, 5,938 characters long.", "text_sha256": "8d6738e9c814c688f367163a99ea800089043cde50594c631bdb29a557f24ac2" }, { "subject": "CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "document": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk)", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the…", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-08", "quote": "the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken", "text_sha256": "8d6738e9c814c688f367163a99ea800089043cde50594c631bdb29a557f24ac2" }, { "subject": "Circular 61, registering a computer program", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "document": "U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "us-federal", "answer_text": "US federal", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-08", "quote": "Copyright Office fees are subject to change", "text_sha256": "e3373076928863d936a6e13a02aa4078277539eedd29d4d90d4c560543da6ccc" }, { "subject": "Circular 61, registering a computer program", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "document": "U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61", "question": "covers", "answer": "registration", "answer_text": "registering a program and depositing its code", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-08", "quote": "a registration for a specific version of a program does not cover", "text_sha256": "e3373076928863d936a6e13a02aa4078277539eedd29d4d90d4c560543da6ccc" }, { "subject": "Circular 61, registering a computer program", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "document": "U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "deposit", "answer_text": "deposit identifying portions of the code", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-08", "quote": "submit one copy of the first twenty-five pages\nand last twenty-five pages of the source code", "text_sha256": "e3373076928863d936a6e13a02aa4078277539eedd29d4d90d4c560543da6ccc" }, { "subject": "Circular 61, registering a computer program", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "document": "U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "Copyrightable source code owned by a third party.", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-08", "quote": "Copyrightable source code owned by a third party.", "text_sha256": "e3373076928863d936a6e13a02aa4078277539eedd29d4d90d4c560543da6ccc" }, { "subject": "Compendium III s.721, source and object code", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "document": "Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "us-federal", "answer_text": "US federal", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Copyright Office views source code and object code as two representations of the same work.", "text_sha256": "b4f23c45739f942bf8105b1d2da86987d75daef9779a8b456a183dba8785474f" }, { "subject": "Compendium III s.721, source and object code", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "document": "Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700", "question": "covers", "answer": "protection", "answer_text": "what copyright protects in a program", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "Source code is a set of statements and instructions written by a human being using a particular programming language", "text_sha256": "b4f23c45739f942bf8105b1d2da86987d75daef9779a8b456a183dba8785474f" }, { "subject": "Compendium III s.721, source and object code", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "document": "Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "not-stated", "answer_text": "not stated", "status": "not-stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 183,439 characters long.", "text_sha256": "b4f23c45739f942bf8105b1d2da86987d75daef9779a8b456a183dba8785474f" }, { "subject": "Compendium III s.721, source and object code", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "document": "Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "As a general rule, the Office will not issue separate registrations for the source code…", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "As a general rule, the Office will not issue separate registrations for the source code and object code versions of the same program.", "text_sha256": "b4f23c45739f942bf8105b1d2da86987d75daef9779a8b456a183dba8785474f" }, { "subject": "Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "document": "U.S. Copyright Office literary works page", "question": "jurisdiction", "answer": "us-federal", "answer_text": "US federal", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The Copyright Act defines “literary works” as “works, other than audiovisual works", "text_sha256": "de8b0b75806c1050e3356dec3c159557d5906ec0cbd4d47b83b8e8942f7a7adf" }, { "subject": "Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "document": "U.S. Copyright Office literary works page", "question": "covers", "answer": "protection", "answer_text": "what copyright protects in a program", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The Copyright Act defines “literary works” as “works, other than audiovisual works, expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia", "text_sha256": "de8b0b75806c1050e3356dec3c159557d5906ec0cbd4d47b83b8e8942f7a7adf" }, { "subject": "Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "document": "U.S. Copyright Office literary works page", "question": "owner_step", "answer": "not-stated", "answer_text": "not stated", "status": "not-stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 3,443 characters long.", "text_sha256": "de8b0b75806c1050e3356dec3c159557d5906ec0cbd4d47b83b8e8942f7a7adf" }, { "subject": "Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office", "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "document": "U.S. Copyright Office literary works page", "question": "clause", "answer": "stated", "answer_text": "expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia", "status": "stated", "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28", "quote": "expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia", "text_sha256": "de8b0b75806c1050e3356dec3c159557d5906ec0cbd4d47b83b8e8942f7a7adf" } ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html", "label": "17 U.S.C. 101-122 (Copyright Office, chapter 1)", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf", "label": "Circular 61, Copyright Registration of Computer Programs", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/chap700/ch700-literary-works.pdf", "label": "Compendium III chapter 700, literary works", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-202/section-202.20", "label": "37 CFR 202.20 deposit of copies (eCFR)", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.copyright.gov/registration/literary-works/", "label": "Literary works registration (U.S. Copyright Office)", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/3", "label": "CDPA 1988 s.3 (legislation.gov.uk)", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/9", "label": "CDPA 1988 s.9 (legislation.gov.uk)", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50A", "label": "CDPA 1988 s.50A (legislation.gov.uk)", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/50B", "label": "CDPA 1988 s.50B (legislation.gov.uk)", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/296A", "label": "CDPA 1988 s.296A (legislation.gov.uk)", "license": "cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages", "class": "primary-government", "status": "read" } ], "methodology": "Each rule's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages were read through estate-fetch and stored whole (sha256 on every row). For every statute or Copyright Office page, four questions were answered from its own words: where the rule applies, what the rule covers, what it asks of the owner, the rule, in its words. Every stated answer carries the sentence it rests on, checked against the stored text; 'not stated' means the statute or Copyright Office page read does not address the question. A rule with several statutes and Copyright Office pages reads 'varies' where they disagree. 10 rules, 10 statutes and Copyright Office pages.", "embed": "
10 US and UK rules on copyright in a game's source code, read 28 October 2026.
The law on copyright in a game's code, sellgamesourcecode.com
" }