Computer Science Colloquium

The history of software copyrights is presented, with emphasis on the concept of Fair Use. Recent developments have changed the balance between the rights of the author/publisher and the public. In particular, the recent Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), has introduced far-reaching consequences for certain types of research and publication.

Bernard A. Galler is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He received a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Chicago in 1955, and has been employed at the University of Michigan since then, first in the Department of Mathematics, then in different departments covering the field of Computer Science. He has worked since 1955 in the field of Computer Science, especially in the areas of software systems, programming languages, linear programming, the history of computing, intellectual property, and intelligent transportation systems. He has authored, among other publications, a book titled: "Software and Intellectual Property Protection." Professionally, he has served as President of the ACM, as the Founder of the Software Patent Institute, and the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of the History of Computing. He is an ACM Fellow, and serves on the ACM Fellows Committee.