Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs
Okay kiddo, you know how you have your special toys that you like to play with and nobody else can touch them without your permission? Well, companies that make computer programs also have special rights to their creations that says nobody else can copy, share or use their programs without permission. This is called an exclusive right.
However, just like how your parents may tell you that you can't take your toys to school or share them with strangers, companies who make computer programs also have some rules they need to follow when it comes to their exclusive rights.
One of these rules is that the company can't stop someone from studying and learning how the computer program works. That means even if the company wants to keep their program a secret, if someone figures out how it works by themselves, the company can't tell them they can't use that knowledge.
Another rule is that the company can't stop someone from using parts of their computer program to make their own program. This is kind of like how you can use your LEGOs to build something completely new, even if you followed the instructions for how to build it in the first place.
And finally, the company can't stop someone from using their computer program in a way that's necessary for it to work together with other programs or machines. For example, if a computer program is needed to make two machines talk to each other, the company can't stop someone from using that program to make them work together.
So, even though companies have exclusive rights to their computer programs, there are some limits to those rights to make sure that other people can still learn and create new things.
However, just like how your parents may tell you that you can't take your toys to school or share them with strangers, companies who make computer programs also have some rules they need to follow when it comes to their exclusive rights.
One of these rules is that the company can't stop someone from studying and learning how the computer program works. That means even if the company wants to keep their program a secret, if someone figures out how it works by themselves, the company can't tell them they can't use that knowledge.
Another rule is that the company can't stop someone from using parts of their computer program to make their own program. This is kind of like how you can use your LEGOs to build something completely new, even if you followed the instructions for how to build it in the first place.
And finally, the company can't stop someone from using their computer program in a way that's necessary for it to work together with other programs or machines. For example, if a computer program is needed to make two machines talk to each other, the company can't stop someone from using that program to make them work together.
So, even though companies have exclusive rights to their computer programs, there are some limits to those rights to make sure that other people can still learn and create new things.