Patentable Software Supporting Features

Software is defined a set of statements or instructions to be used directly or indirectly in a computer in order to achieve a specified objective. Softwares are derived from their creators’ thoughts and the most efficient way is through the intellectual property rights.
First a software is created in written form, the most popular way of supporting it can be through copyright protection. The European Directives expressly recognize software programs as a literary work. But with reference to the provisions of TRIPs agreement and USA and UK patent laws, they could be registered as a patent too. Softwares are likely the strong economic means, which most of the vital projects of the country are fulfiled by them. Thus there must be the possibility for them that, after meeting several criteria, be registered as an invention. For this reason, the European patent office, which previously used to decline software patent offers, after changing its policies, granted patent to the effective technical softwares. By protecting the software as an invention, the inventor has the exclusive right to make use and exclusive offer of his/her invention. The idea of software can be protected only under patent systems, which can be assumed as a difference between patentable software and software as a literary work.
In accordance with Iran’s law, the software, which includes the prescribed conditions in patent laws, will be known as an invention. This procedure is partially in accordance with the USA and Uk patent laws.