As an attorney, I approached this book on software protection by a layman with a good deal of scepticism. I was, however, soon convinced that this is an excellent book and one that any software professional and many lawyers could benefit from. Indeed, it is probably the best written and most practical book on software protection for the layman that I’ve seen.

The author is an experienced software developer who has served as chair of the ADAPSO Software Protection Committee. The text covers copyrights, patents, trade secrecy, employment contracts, trademarks, and more. Although few topics are covered in great depth, the work is an excellent outline of the current law and practice within the industry. Keet offers guides to what will and will not work from a practitioner’s viewpoint. The final chapter proposes changes that the author believes are needed to make the law work in better accord with modern technology.

Margin notes make the text easier to follow and serve as a reference guide. On the negative side, there are too few citations and references to suit most attorneys, and the glossary contains too few legal terms and too many computer terms. The book, on the whole, is a fine survey of a complicated area of the law and well worth having.