Ideation, Conceptualization, Realization

Sarah Leins-Zurmuehle provides new insights to the discussion about sheltering software through copyright and patent law. First, the author analyses common forms of software development and commercialization. Based on these findings she legally evaluates to what extent copyright and patent law can reflect these structures and determines how an optimal protection scope for computer programs could look like today. The author further acknowledges as well as legally qualifies some prevailing trends in the software industry, such as Crum and continuous delivery, that have so far been largely unaddressed by copyright and patent law.