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De Juridische Bescherming Van Software in België

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De Juridische Bescherming Van Software in België Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid Universiteit Gent Academiejaar 2009-2010 De juridische bescherming van Software in België Masterproef van de opleiding ‘Master in de Rechten’ Ingediend door Rik Minoodt (studentennr. 20031022) (major: Sociaal- en Economisch recht) Promotor: Prof. B. Depoorter Commissaris: J. Demot Inhoudsopgave Inleiding...................................................................................................................................... 1 Deel 1. “Softwarebescherming” : Waar te situeren in het recht ? ......................................... 3 1. Intellectueel eigendomsrecht ......................................................................................... 5 1.1 Ontstaan ................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Kenmerken intellectuele eigendomsrechten .......................................................... 8 1.3 Verschilpunten tussen het auteursrecht sensu lato en de industriële eigendomsrechten .............................................................................................................. 8 1.4 De bescherming door meerdere intellectuele eigendomsrechten ......................... 9 1.5 Enkele belangrijke verdragen ................................................................................ 10 1.5.1 Het Univerdrag van Parijs (UvP) ..................................................................... 11 1.5.2 Berner Conventie ............................................................................................ 13 1.5.3 Het WIPO/OMPI-verdrag ................................................................................ 14 1.5.4 TRIPs-verdrag .................................................................................................. 15 Deel 2: Bescherming van software via de Softwarewet ........................................................ 18 1. Voorgeschiedenis: een Europese inslag, de Europese richtlijn van 14 mei 1991 betreffende de rechtsbescherming van computerprogramma’s ........................................ 18 1.1 De complexiteit van de Softwarerichtlijn: het gevolg van intensieve lobbywerk. 20 2. De implementatie van de Softwarerichtlijn in het Belgische Recht ............................. 21 3. Beschermingstechniek voor software ........................................................................... 23 3.1 Beschermingsgrondslag: het Auteursrecht ........................................................... 23 3.1.1. Het beschermde voorwerp en beschermingsvoorwaarden ........................... 25 3.2 Oorspronkelijkheids- of orginaliteitscriterium ...................................................... 29 3.2.1 Wat?................................................................................................................ 29 3.2.2 Het orginaliteitscriterium in de Auteurswet .................................................. 30 II 3.2.3 Originaliteitsbegrip in de Softwarerichtlijn .................................................... 31 3.2.4 Het orignialiteitsbegrip in de Belgische Softwarewet .................................... 33 3.2.5 Mening van de Rechtsleer .............................................................................. 33 3.2.6 Mening van de rechtspraak ............................................................................ 34 3.3 De beschermde personen .......................................................................................... 36 3.3.1 Arbeidsrechtelijke implicaties .............................................................................. 36 3.3.2 Aannemingsrechtelijke implicaties ...................................................................... 39 4. Rechtsgevolgen van de bescherming ............................................................................ 40 4.1 Rechten van de auteursrechthebbende ................................................................ 40 4.1.1 Morele rechten ............................................................................................... 41 4.1.2 Vermogensrechten ......................................................................................... 43 A. Reproductierecht ........................................................................................................... 44 B. Vertaal- en bewerkingsrecht ......................................................................................... 45 C. Distributierecht ............................................................................................................. 46 4.2 Rechten van de gebruiker ...................................................................................... 48 4.2.1 Gebruik / noodzakelijkheid ............................................................................. 49 4.2.2 Reservekopie .................................................................................................. 50 4.2.3 Observatie en bestudering van een computerprogramma ........................... 51 4.2.4 Decompilatie en reverse engeneering ........................................................... 53 5. Hoe lang is er Bescherming? ......................................................................................... 58 6. Rechtshandhaving ........................................................................................................ 60 6.1 Non-recidive ........................................................................................................... 60 6.1.1 Primaire inbreuken ......................................................................................... 60 6.1.2 Secundaire inbreuken ..................................................................................... 61 6.2 Recidive .................................................................................................................. 64 6.3 Verbeurdverklaring ................................................................................................ 64 7. Overgangsrecht ............................................................................................................. 65 III 8. Bevoegde rechtbank? .................................................................................................... 66 9. Verhouding tussen de Softwarewet en de Auteurswet ................................................ 66 10. Tussentijds besluit ..................................................................................................... 67 11. Nieuwe Softwarerichtlijn ........................................................................................... 68 Deel 3. Alternatieve beschermingsweg: octrooi op software ............................................... 70 1. Inleiding ......................................................................................................................... 70 2. Software: octrooieerbaar of niet ? ................................................................................ 73 3. Geldigheidsvereisten voor een octrooi ......................................................................... 88 3.1. Materiële vereisten ................................................................................................... 89 3.1.1 Uitvinding ............................................................................................................. 89 3.1.2 Nieuwheid ............................................................................................................ 90 3.1.3 Uitvinderswerkzaamheid ..................................................................................... 91 3.1.4 Toepassing op gebeid van nijverheid ................................................................... 92 3.2 Formele vereisten ....................................................................................................... 92 4. Opeisen van de eigendom van een octrooi ................................................................ 101 5. Rechten en plichten van de octrooihouder ................................................................ 103 5.1 Rechten ................................................................................................................ 103 5.1.1 Het exclusief recht tot exploitatie ..................................................................... 103 5.1.2 Uitzonderingen op het exclusief recht ............................................................... 105 5.1.3 Het recht tot overdracht of licentie ................................................................... 106 5.2 Plichten ..................................................................................................................... 106 5.2.1 Betaling van de jaartaks ..................................................................................... 106 5.2.2 Exploitatieplicht .................................................................................................. 107 6. Inbreuken op het octrooi ............................................................................................ 108 7. Nietigheid en afstand van het uitvindingsoctrooi ....................................................... 109 8. Octrooibescherming buiten België ............................................................................. 111 IV Deel 4. Andere beschermingsmechanismen ........................................................................ 115 1. Bedrijfsgeheimen en knowhow................................................................................... 115 1.1. Bekendmaking door (ex)werknemer ......................................................................
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