What is a software copyright?

A software copyright is a form of intellectual property law that is specific to the protection of computer software. It is used to protect the original expression of ideas in software, such as code, graphics, user interface, and documentation. In South Carolina, a software copyright provides exclusive rights to the author of a software program for the duration of their life plus seventy years. This allows the author to control the reproduction, distribution, and performance of their software program. The purpose is to protect the original author from people copying and using their program without permission or payment. Software copyrights only protect the code that makes up the software program. It does not protect any elements that are not original or part of the program, such as facts, ideas, methods, or processes. For example, if a program uses a database of common facts, the copyright will not protect the facts, only the expression of those facts in the code. Software copyrights are a powerful tool for software developers to protect and monetize their work. In order to register a software copyright in South Carolina, the author must first prove that they are the original author of the software and that it contains original elements. The software must also be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office for it to be legally enforced.

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