Course detail

Software Law

FEKT-BPC-SPRAcad. year: 2018/2019

Concept and structure of software law, copyright institutes of software protection, legal issues in production of software, concept, structure and typical forms for license contracting, typical stipulations in license agreements, defect liability for software, protection of sui generis rights.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to understand system and structure of legal protection of software including its international externalities as well as to practically use instruments of copyright protection of computer programmes. Students should also be able to work with various forms of software license contracting and to assess validity and practical effects of standard license contracts. In addition, students will be able to practically apply sui generis protection of databases.

Prerequisites

This course is relatively independent on other parts of the programme, so no prerequisites are required.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course consists of lectures and self-study of electronically provided course materials.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

The course is concluded upon 3 interactive questionnaires, whereas required is full completion of at least 2 of them.

Course curriculum

Outline:
1. System of Czech, European and international intellectual property law
2. Concept of software and of computer programme, software as copyrighted work – comparison of Czech and foreign legal regulatory framework
3. Software as patentable invention
4. Software license agreements I – electronic license contracting, adhesion contracts, consumer protection
5. Software license agreements II – typical stipulations in license contracts, specialist terms, law applicable
6. Legal issues in production of software with focus on contracted production of software and work for hire
7. Liability for defects in software
8. Concept and legal qualification of free licenses, phenomenon of Free and Open Software
9. Legal issues in software as a service (SaaS) solutions
10. Specific forms of practical use of software – electronic agents, automated dispute resolution systems etc.
11. Abuse of market dominance and abuse of consumer lock-in on software market
12. Concept of sui generis rights
13. Case studies of complex problematic issues arising of legal protection of software

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The course aims to particularly analyse and resolve legal issues arising from development and implementation of software namely with regards to legal protection of software and sui generis protection of databases. The course will tackle protection of software by copyrights focusing on practical problems arising of employment or contracted production of software. In addition, typical forms license agreements and standard forms of use of software will be analysed. The course will also provide for specific insight into gui generis protection of databases.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Study requirements will be published annually by the guarantor of the course.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

MYŠKA, Matěj a Jan TOMÍŠEK. Práva k datům a software. In Radim Polčák a kol. Právo informačních technologií. 1. vyd. Praha: Wolters Kluwer, 2018. s. 113-211. Právní monografie. ISBN 978-80-7598-045-8.

Recommended reading

JANSA, Lukáš, Petr OTEVŘEL a Martin ŠTEVKO. Softwarové právo. 3. aktualizované a rozšířené vydání. Brno: Computer Press, 2018. ISBN 978-80-251-4914-0.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-IBE Bachelor's, 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

24 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer