2022-06-06

  • Tech Law
  • Copyright Law

No Monopoly Over Code: A Review Of The United States Supreme Court Decision In Google LLC V Oracle America Inc.

Article by Nasser Konde

Abstract

The United States Supreme Court decision in Google LLC v Oracle America Inc. set a precedent with regards to the nature and exclusive use of computer programs in general and source code in particular. The decision also clarified the application of the defence of fair use for copyright infringement to computer programs and source code hence streamlining its application to the technology industry. The impact of this decision if adopted as the position of the Law in Uganda is analysed and consequently its compatibility with Ugandan copyright law.

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A Commentary On The Computer Misuse (amendment) Bill, No. 16 Of 2022

Anthony C.K Kakooza

The Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill, No. 16 of 2022 (the Bill), was tabled in Parliament for first reading by Honourable Mohammad Nsereko, as a Private Members’ Bill, in July 2022 to amend the Computer Misuse Act No. 2 of 2011 (the Principal Act). Its general objective is not only to create tougher penalties for the use of cyberspace by inserting new provisions on crimes in the principal Act, it also proposes stringent penalties for existent offences and those introduced by the Bill. In this commentary, each of the clauses in the Bill are set out to show that much as there is a need to curb abuse in cyberspace triggered by the rapid advancement in computer-generated technology, the proposed clauses in the Bill, risk throwing the baby out with the bath water.