Decompilation and copyright in ideas - the protection of non-literal elements of computer software and the idea/expression dichotomy
| dc.contributor.advisor | Karjiker, Sadulla | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Dean, Owen | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Jooste, Jacobus Petrus | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Mercantile Law. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-08-06T16:07:21Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-01-31T19:34:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-08-06T16:07:21Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-01-31T19:34:50Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2020-12 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (LLD)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The maxim, that copyright law does not protect ideas, is frequently challenged when the established principles are tested against new forms of expression or exploitation of a work. The evolution of computer programs, its unique characteristics and the increasing value of software as a commodity have resulted in a strained relationship between copyright law and the public interest regarding access to the underlying ideas in a computer program. This work examines the misalliance between copyright principles and the technical nature of computer programming, with a specific focus on the act of decompiling an existing program where it is undertaken in order to understand the underlying ideas and techniques. The impetus for this analysis is the sui generis classification of computer programs in South African copyright law and the potential this offers for development of domestic law in pursuit of national policy goals. This work conducts a normative analysis of the law and the technical reality of decompilation, from the perspective that copyright law must maintain a clear separation between the idea and the expression. The review of national and foreign copyright law is, throughout, conducted with a perspective on the effect of protection and a critical examination of the degree to which the law maintains an adequate balance between the private and public interests in the protection of software. In this respect, the current legal position is evaluated and a different, normative and prodevelopmental perspective regarding decompilation is proposed. It is submitted that are balancing of interests is justified and essential in order to establish an appropriate level of fairness and, at the same time, stimulate progress in this industry. It is argued that the act of using computer code to discover its meaning should not amount to infringement in the form of reproduction or adaptation of the work. It is found that the perception of decompilation, as a form of infringement, relies on an analogy to literary work. This view, it is argued, is ill suited to the nature of computer programs, at odds with the sui generis classification in SA copyright law, causes overbroad protection and violates the idea/expression separation. In light of the technical review of decompilation, it is found that the legal basis for prohibiting decompilation as a form of infringement is narrower than commonly assumed and that copyright law principles should be reinterpreted purposefully to permit decompilation. This work advocates that decompilation must be permissible and that an exemption, in SA copyright law, which is limited to decompilation for interoperability alone, is not appropriate in light of the national developmental agenda. Therefore, an alternative exemption is proposed which accommodates the technical reality of decompilation, the public interest in access to ideas and the commercial interests of copyright owners. This approach is supported by an analysis of international copyright law and is based on the inherent flexibilities of the three-step test. The justification for the findings of this work and the proposed departure from foreign precedent is supported by a close examination of the effect of a limited decompilation exception in foreign law and the impact of legislative measures to restrict circumvention of technological protection measures. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die regspreuk dat outeursreg nie idees beskerm nie word gereeld uitgedaag wanneer die gevestigde beginsels getoets word aan nuwe vorme van uitdrukking of uitbuiting van beskermde werk. Die ontwikkeling van rekenaarprogramme, hul eiesoortige karaktereienskappe en die toenemende waarde van sagteware as ‘n kommoditeit het tot ‘n gespanne verband gelei tussen outeursreg en die openbare belang aangaande toegang tot die onderliggende idees in ‘n rekenaarprogram. Hierdie werk ondersoek die wanverhouding tussen outeursreg-beginsels en die tegniese aard van rekenaarprogrammering met ‘n spesifieke fokus op de-kompilasie van ‘n bestaande program indien sodanige proses aangepak word om die onderliggende idees en tegnieke van die program te verstaan. Die aansporing vir hierdie analise is die sui generis klassifikasie van rekenaarprogramme in Suid Afrikaanse outeursreg en die potensiaal wat dit bied vir die ontwikkeling van plaaslike reg in navolging van nasionale beleidsdoelwitte. Hierdie werk onderneem ‘n normatiewe ontleding van die reg en die tegniese realiteit van de-kompilasie vanuit die perspektief dat outeursreg ‘n beduidende onderskeid moet handhaaf tussen idees en uitdrukkings. Die beoordeling van plaaslike en buitelandse outeursreg word, deurgaans, gedoen met ‘n fokus op die effek van beskerming en ‘n kritiese evaluering van die mate waartoe die reg ‘n behoorlike balans handhaaf tussen die openbare en private belang in die beskerming van sagteware. In hierdie verband word die huidige regsposisie oorweeg en ‘n alternatiewe, normatiewe en pro-ontwikkelingsperspektief voorgestel. Dit word aan die hand gedoen dat ‘n herbalansering van belange geregverdig en noodsaaklik is om ‘n gepaste vlak van billikheid te bereik wat, terselfdertyd, vooruitgang in die industrie kan stimuleer. Die argument word aangebied dat die blote gebruik van programkode, om die betekenis daarvan te ontdek, nie op outeursreg-skending in die vorm van reproduksie of aanwending behoort neer te kom nie. Daar word bevind dat die persepsie van dekompilasie as ‘n vorm van skending steun op ‘n analogie met letterkundige werk. Hierdie beskouing is onvanpas in lig van die aard van rekenaarprogramme, teenstrydig met die sui generis klassifikasie in SA outeursreg, veroorsaak oormatige beskerming en skend die idee/uitdrukking onderskeid. Na aanleiding van die tegniese ontleding van dekompilasie word bevind dat die regsbasis vir die verbod op dekompilasie as ‘n vorm van skending nouer is as wat algemeen aanvaar word en dat outeursreg-beginsels doelgerig heroorweeg moet word om dekompilasie toe te laat. Hierdie werk voer aan dat dekompilasie toelaatbaar moet wees en dat ‘n uitsondering, in SA outeursreg, wat dekompilasie beperk tot slegs tussenwerking, onvanpas is in die lig van die nasionale ontwikkelingsagenda. Daarom word ‘n alternatiewe uitsondering voorgestel wat die tegniese aard van dekompilasie, die openbare belang in toegang na idees en die kommersiële belange van die outeursreg-eienaar akkommodeer. Hierdie benadering word onderbou deur ‘n analise van internasionale outeursreg en is gebaseer op die inherente buigsaamheid van die drie-stap toets. Die regverdiging vir die bevindings in hierdie werk en die voorgestelde afwyking van buitelandse presedent word ondersteun deur ‘n indringende ondersoek van die effek wat ‘n beperkte dekompilasie uitsondering in buitelandse reg het en die impak van statutêre maatstawwe met betrekking tot omseiling van tegniese beskermingsmaatreëls. | af_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Doctoral | en_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 379 pages | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/109088 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Copyright | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Copyright -- Law and legislation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Copyright infringement | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Decompilation | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Copyright, International -- Analysis | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Decompilation and copyright in ideas - the protection of non-literal elements of computer software and the idea/expression dichotomy | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |