Abstract: A group of former computer software and services company CEOs and attorneys met to discuss the issues involved over the years in protecting software. They talked about patents and copyrights and the difficulties in using them to legally protect software. This was not a major issue in the early years when most application software was custom, but it became significant with the use of packaged software and the introduction of widely-distributed software for the PC. They discussed the difference between published and unpublished copyrights and how IBM became more concerned with the issue after they unbundled their software. They finished by discussing the characteristics of the early period of software and what they expect will happen to the industry in the future.

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