How to obtain copyright of a computer software in China?
As in many other countries, computer software may obtain copyright in China. The State Council published on June 4, 1991 the Regulations for the Protection of Computer Software (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations), which was effective from October 1, 1991. The Regulations clearly provides for the protection of computer software. According to Articles 5, 6 and 7 of the Regulations, the follows requirements shall be met in order for a computer software to get copyright protection: 1. The software shall be developed by the developer and is fixed in some form of tangible objects, such as RAM, ROM, disk, tape or CD ROM. 2. A Chinese citizen or unit enjoys copyright over the computer software which he or it has developed no matter if published or where published. A foreigner whose computer software has first been published in China will enjoy copyright over the software. While the software of a foreigner published abroad will enjoy copyright under the bilateral agreement between Chin
