The law on copyright in a game's code
10 US and UK rules on copyright in a game's source code, read 28 October 2026.
Where the rule applies
What the rule covers
What it asks of the owner
The rule, in its words
All the answers, rule by rule
Read across a row for one rule's answers, and open any of them for the quoted sentence, its statute or Copyright Office page and the read date. A "not stated" cell means the statute or Copyright Office page does not speak to that question.
| Rule | Where the rule applies | What the rule covers | What it asks of the owner | The rule, in its words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs | US federal | what copyright protects in a program | not statedNot addressed in Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office | it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or… |
| 37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit | US federal | registering a program and depositing its code | deposit identifying portions of the code | The first and last 25 pages or equivalent units of the source code if reproduced on paper |
| CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void | United Kingdom | what a lawful user may do without the owner | accept acts a contract cannot forbid | any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit… |
| CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work | United Kingdom | what copyright protects in a program | not statedNot addressed in Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk) | “literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written… |
| CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies | United Kingdom | what a lawful user may do without the owner | not statedNot addressed in Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk) | It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program… |
| CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation | United Kingdom | what a lawful user may do without the owner | not statedNot addressed in Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk) | It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program… |
| CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work | United Kingdom | who is the author | not statedNot addressed in Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk) | the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the… |
| Circular 61, registering a computer program | US federal | registering a program and depositing its code | deposit identifying portions of the code | Copyrightable source code owned by a third party. |
| Compendium III s.721, source and object code | US federal | what copyright protects in a program | not statedNot addressed in Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700 | As a general rule, the Office will not issue separate registrations for the source code… |
| Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office | US federal | what copyright protects in a program | not statedNot addressed in U.S. Copyright Office literary works page | expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia |
The 40 sentences the answers come from
- 17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs, Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office, read 2026-10-28, Where the rule applies:
Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government
- 17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs, Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office, read 2026-10-28, What the rule covers:
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.
- 17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs, Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office, read 2026-10-28, What it asks of the owner: The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 389,618 characters long.
- 17 U.S.C. 101 and 117, computer programs, Title 17, chapter 1, U.S. Copyright Office, read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its words:
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
- 37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit, eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20, read 2026-10-28, Where the rule applies:
Subchapter A Part 202 § 202.20
- 37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit, eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20, read 2026-10-28, What the rule covers:
Computer programs and databases embodied in machine-readable copies other than CD-ROM format.
- 37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit, eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20, read 2026-10-28, What it asks of the owner:
“identifying portions” shall mean one of the following
- 37 CFR 202.20(c)(2)(vii), the source code deposit, eCFR, 37 CFR 202.20, read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its words:
The first and last 25 pages or equivalent units of the source code if reproduced on paper
- CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule applies:
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 296A
- CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, What the rule covers:
Where a person has the use of a computer program under an agreement
- CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, What it asks of the owner:
any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit or restrict
- CDPA 1988 s.296A, terms that are void, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its words:
any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit or restrict
- CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule applies:
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 3
- CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, What the rule covers:
“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written, spoken or sung
- CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, What it asks of the owner: The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 5,824 characters long.
- CDPA 1988 s.3, a program is a literary work, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its words:
“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work, which is written, spoken or sung, and accordingly includes
- CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule applies:
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 50A
- CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, What the rule covers:
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
- CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, What it asks of the owner: The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 5,281 characters long.
- CDPA 1988 s.50A, back-up copies, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its words:
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.
- CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, Where the rule applies:
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 50B
- CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, What the rule covers:
It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program expressed in a low level language
- CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, What it asks of the owner: The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 5,976 characters long.
- CDPA 1988 s.50B, decompilation, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its words:
It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program expressed in a low level language
- CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-08, Where the rule applies:
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 9
- CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-08, What the rule covers:
the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken
- CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-08, What it asks of the owner: The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-08, 5,938 characters long.
- CDPA 1988 s.9(3), a computer-generated work, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk), read 2026-10-08, The rule, in its words:
the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken
- Circular 61, registering a computer program, U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61, read 2026-10-08, Where the rule applies:
Copyright Office fees are subject to change
- Circular 61, registering a computer program, U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61, read 2026-10-08, What the rule covers:
a registration for a specific version of a program does not cover
- Circular 61, registering a computer program, U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61, read 2026-10-08, What it asks of the owner:
submit one copy of the first twenty-five pages and last twenty-five pages of the source code
- Circular 61, registering a computer program, U.S. Copyright Office Circular 61, read 2026-10-08, The rule, in its words:
Copyrightable source code owned by a third party.
- Compendium III s.721, source and object code, Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700, read 2026-10-28, Where the rule applies:
Copyright Office views source code and object code as two representations of the same work.
- Compendium III s.721, source and object code, Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700, read 2026-10-28, What the rule covers:
Source code is a set of statements and instructions written by a human being using a particular programming language
- Compendium III s.721, source and object code, Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700, read 2026-10-28, What it asks of the owner: The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 183,439 characters long.
- Compendium III s.721, source and object code, Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, chapter 700, read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its words:
As a general rule, the Office will not issue separate registrations for the source code and object code versions of the same program.
- Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office, U.S. Copyright Office literary works page, read 2026-10-28, Where the rule applies:
The Copyright Act defines “literary works” as “works, other than audiovisual works
- Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office, U.S. Copyright Office literary works page, read 2026-10-28, What the rule covers:
The Copyright Act defines “literary works” as “works, other than audiovisual works, expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia
- Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office, U.S. Copyright Office literary works page, read 2026-10-28, What it asks of the owner: The statute or Copyright Office page is silent here; it was read in full on 2026-10-28, 3,443 characters long.
- Registering a literary work, the Copyright Office, U.S. Copyright Office literary works page, read 2026-10-28, The rule, in its words:
expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia
How the figures are worked out
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.
The 10 pages we read
- 17 U.S.C. 101-122 (Copyright Office, chapter 1) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- Circular 61, Copyright Registration of Computer Programs (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- Compendium III chapter 700, literary works (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- 37 CFR 202.20 deposit of copies (eCFR) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- Literary works registration (U.S. Copyright Office) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- CDPA 1988 s.3 (legislation.gov.uk) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- CDPA 1988 s.9 (legislation.gov.uk) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- CDPA 1988 s.50A (legislation.gov.uk) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- CDPA 1988 s.50B (legislation.gov.uk) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
- CDPA 1988 s.296A (legislation.gov.uk) (cited for reporting; the publisher's own US and UK copyright statutes and the U.S. Copyright Office's own pages)
Take this figure with you
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).
Suggested citation: "The law on copyright in a game's code", updated 2026-10-28, https://sellgamesourcecode.com/datasets/game-code-copyright-law/.
CSV download (40 answers, worked out 2026-10-28)
Questions this data answers
How is a game's source code protected and registered in the US and the UK, and what may a licensee do with a program without the owner?
10 US and UK rules on copyright in a game's source code, read 28 October 2026.