ISSUE:
Whether computer software, specifically an operating system, is protected by copyright under US law?
Whether duplicating another company's software for compatibility purposes, as done by Franklin Computer Corporation, is a breach of copyright law, even if it is necessary for compatibility?
RULE:
Under the US law, computer software, including operating systems, is eligible for copyright protection. This safeguard guarantees the developer sole ownership of the software's reproduction, distribution, and use. Compatibility concerns do not justify direct copying of software, and such copying may constitute a violation of copyright, regardless of the desire to ensure compatibility.