DIRECTIVE ON THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF COMPUTER PROGRAMS

Directive  on  the  Legal  Protection  of  Computer  Programs.Copyright.  A  1991  European

Commission  initiative  requiring  members  to  protect  computer  software  by  copyright rather  than

by patent or some sui generis set of legal rights. • The purpose of the Directive was to harmonize

copyright laws among  the  members  of  the  European  Commission.  It  standardized  the  degree  of

originality  required  for  software  to  qualify  for  copyright  protections. —  Also  termed  Computer

Programs Directive; Software Directive. [Blacks Law 8th]