Legal Protection of Computer Software

THIS BOOK HITS THE IT SPOT NICELY!

Professor Bainbridge brings his unusual, but welcome, experience to this mix of law and technology with a superb fifth edition of software law. There is a splendid glossary (which could do with a bit of expansion) and 12 chapters covering all the intellectual property law suspects (patents, confidentiality, competition etc) and some great stuff on Europe which would give UKIP a headache (deservedly) in the form of five appendices: three directives; a proposal; and some highly relevant web links.

Bainbridge starts his book with his view that "at one time, the protection of computer software against unauthorised copying, distribution or use was not a significant one�. He recognises that national and international IP laws have been ill-equipped to provide protection. This work clearly plugs a gap in the newly emerging area of 21st century software law. He states his central aim as examining critically the various forms of protection that can now be applied to computer software.

His aim is achieved, and I hope many non-lawyers will read this work (it has few cases, readers will be relieved to find out!) as the bootleg DVD/CD menace continues and creative people can obtain better protection. It hits the IT spot nicely.