Borland case briefs raise questions about software copyright protection

Article Abstract:

Legal briefs filed in support of Borland International Inc's defense of the copyright suit brought by Lotus Development Corp assert that copyright law may not be appropriate to the functional concepts in question. Lotus claims that aspects of its 1-2-3 spreadsheet software, which has long dominated the market, are copied in Borland's Quattro Pro software. Ten law professors filed the friend-of-the-court briefs for Borland after Lotus filed a motion for a summary judgement from the US District Court in Boston. They argue that a judge previously used an 'overbroad' test when it ruled in Lotus' favor in a similar case against Paperback Software International, whose VP Planner spreadsheet allegedly infringed on Lotus' copyright by copying the 1-2-3 user interface. The professors argue that patent law rather than copyright law applies to software command organization and structure.

Courts, Spreadsheets, Borland International Inc., BORL, Borland Quattro Pro (Spreadsheet software)

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Lotus trial may clarify copyrights

Article Abstract:

If Lotus Development Corp wins its copyright infringement case as analysts expect it will, the victory will go a long way towards clarifying intellectual property and software copyright questions. The suit involves several smaller software firms that marketed spreadsheet software with a look and feel similar to that of Lotus 1-2-3. Lotus holds 60 percent of the spreadsheet market, but analysts fear that should Lotus lose the case, the cheaper versions that sell for as much as $400 less than 1-2-3 could take much of that. Industry opinion has changed dramatically recently, from its usual entrepreneurial spirit to a more conservative view on the need to protect intellectual property. Those who support the smaller companies say that there are only so many ways a spreadsheet can work and a ruling in favor of Lotus would give the software giant an unfair competitive advantage.

Computer industry, Design and construction

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Lotus Development wins suit charging Paperback Software violated copyright

Article Abstract:

Lotus Development Corp won a lawsuit against Paperback Software International in which it charged Paperback with infringing on its copyright for its best-selling 1-2-3 spreadsheet software. Federal District Court Judge Robert Keeton in a 113-page ruling stated that Paperback's VP Planner program used different computer code than Lotus's 1-2-3 but its command and user interface were so similar as to violate Lotus's copyright. The ruling is not expected to have much financial impact on Lotus, which dominates 60 percent of the market share despite competition from clone makers. Lotus is expected to request an injunction prohibiting Paperback from continuing to sell its VP Planner at a conference with Judge Keeton on Jul 19, 1990.

Software, Software piracy, Paperback Software International, VP-Planner (Spreadsheet software)

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