Protection of computer programs

The Directive on the legal protection of computer programs (91/250/EEC) was a real European 'first' for copyright law, the first copyright measure to be adopted following the publication of the White Paper on completing the Single Market by 1992. The objective of the Directive is to harmonize Member States' legislation regarding the protection of computer programmes in order to create a legal environment which will afford a degree of security against unauthorized reproduction of such programmes.

• Directive 91/250 EEC
• Press Release (1991)
• Report (2000)