300-16
321
Computer programs. (cont'd)
Because computer programs do not generally contain textual information, the claim to copyright in a computer program is generally made on the basis of authorship expressed in "numerical symbols or indicia" contained in the program. Computer programs are ordinarily considered "literary works" and can be considered for registration on Form TX.
Examples:
1)
A program that calculates the orbit of a rocket.
2)
A program that computes wages and salaries for a payroll.
3)
A self-teaching mathematics program for elementary students.
321.01
Source code. Source code is the computer program code as the programmer writes it, using a particular programming language, generally a program written in high-level language, such as, BASIC, COBOL, or FORTRAN. A program in source code must be changed into object code before the computer can execute it. This change is accomplished by a separate program within the computer called an assembler or a compiler to enable the program to be run on a particular brand and model computer (e.g., a compiler on a TRS-80 Model III would enable source code to be executed on that particular brand and model computer).
321.02
Object code. Object code is the representation of the program in machine language (e.g., binary coding using zeros and ones or hexadecimal coding using letters and numbers or octal coding using 0 to 7) which the computer executes.
[1984]
