The legal status of reverse engineering of computer software |
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Authors: | Cristina Cifuentes and Anne Fitzgerald |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane Qld, 4072, Australia E-mail:;(2) Software Engineering Australia, 3/107 Quay Street, Brisbane Qld, 4000, Australia E-mail: |
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Abstract: | Reverse engineering of computer software has assumed greater importance in recent years because of the need to examine legacy
code to remove the year 2000 bug. There are different types of reverse engineering based on the level of abstraction of the
code to be reengineered; machine code, assembly code, source code or even CASE code. We describe the different types of reverse
engineering and the extent of copyright protection for software. The most common uses of reverse engineering are described.
This provides for a comparative overview of the legal standing on reverse engineering at the international level. We propose
challenges to the global electronic community in relation to existing and future legislation in the area of reverse engineering
and protection of digital works.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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