In order to further ensure that secrets are protected, is deposition of computer program in object code permissible?
Although the recent amendment (1994) in the Copyright Act enlarges the meaning of a computer program, it is still not very clear as to whether it includes both object code and source code. However, keeping in mind the proclaimed object of the amendment, presumably the benefit of the Copyright Act will be available to both. As per experts’ opinion, it is easier to determine from source code whether the deposit represents copyrightable material. Deposit of object code may be possible, but registration presumably would be accepted pending on assurance that the code does represent copyrightable material. Procedures for these do not exist at present with the Copyright Office.
