Patent, copyright and trade secret protection for computer software

Several ways to protect software are examined. Patents confer a limited monopoly, which protects the patent holder against all later independent developers of the same or equivalent program. Utility-patent applications typically require several thousand dollars in fees and costs prior to issuance of the patent. Design-patent applications are relatively much cheaper to file and process through the Patent Office. Copyright protects the literal code, and possibly the programs´ structure and organization, against copying. Copyright registration applications can usually be prepared for a few hundred dollars, including any attorney time. Trade-secret protection for software is a viable alternative, if the program cannot be easily copied by purchasers. The cost for protecting a trade secret depends on the measures necessary to keep the information from general public disclosure.<>