Altai vs. Computer Associates

Since a few days I am a member of this discussion list, so I do not know which subjects have been discussed lately. I am working for the Centre for Computers and Law of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I am interested in legal informatics and computer law. I do have a question about copyright/patent and software.

Does anyone know the case of Altai vs. Computer Associates (Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit)? I was told this case makes clear the range (scope?) of copyright law for works of art is wider then it is for technical products like computer software and therefore in the United States there is shift from copyright to patent to protect software. Is this right? If yes, does anyone know whether or not it is possible to get a patent for computer programs 'as such' in the US?

Thanks in advance.

Leo van der Wees
Erasmus University
P.O.box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
The Netherlands
e-mail: wees[_at_]cvx.eur.nl Received on Tue Nov 03 1992 - 19:41:23 GMT