Jonathan Band and Masanobu Katoh
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262015004
- eISBN:
- 9780262295543
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262015004.003.0001
- Subject:
- Information Science, Information Science
This chapter examines the interoperability debate in the European Union and the U.S. before 1995. It considers the issues concerning the unprotectability of interface specifications and the ...
More
This chapter examines the interoperability debate in the European Union and the U.S. before 1995. It considers the issues concerning the unprotectability of interface specifications and the permissibility of reverse engineering for computer software. It reviews several relevant cases including Whelan v. Jaslow, Computer Associates v. Altai, and Atari v. Nintendo and Sega v. Accolade. It argues that the triumph of interoperability will benefit both the information technology industry and computer users around the world.Less
This chapter examines the interoperability debate in the European Union and the U.S. before 1995. It considers the issues concerning the unprotectability of interface specifications and the permissibility of reverse engineering for computer software. It reviews several relevant cases including Whelan v. Jaslow, Computer Associates v. Altai, and Atari v. Nintendo and Sega v. Accolade. It argues that the triumph of interoperability will benefit both the information technology industry and computer users around the world.
Jonathan Band and Masanobu Katoh
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262015004
- eISBN:
- 9780262295543
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262015004.003.0006
- Subject:
- Information Science, Information Science
This chapter considers various issues that may have more impact on interoperability in the future. These include open-source software, software patents and statutory requirements. This chapter ...
More
This chapter considers various issues that may have more impact on interoperability in the future. These include open-source software, software patents and statutory requirements. This chapter explains that while copyright law has evolved in a manner that prevents its use to exercise control of interface specifications, Microsoft and other companies continue to pursue proprietary business strategies, with great success. It also argues that even if copyright does not protect a program’s interface specifications, a patent that applies to the program’s interface or basic functionality can frustrate interoperability with that program.Less
This chapter considers various issues that may have more impact on interoperability in the future. These include open-source software, software patents and statutory requirements. This chapter explains that while copyright law has evolved in a manner that prevents its use to exercise control of interface specifications, Microsoft and other companies continue to pursue proprietary business strategies, with great success. It also argues that even if copyright does not protect a program’s interface specifications, a patent that applies to the program’s interface or basic functionality can frustrate interoperability with that program.
