The topic of this book is how copyright law impacts interoperability and innovation in general. This is a follow-up to the 1995 book by the same authors [1]. Since the original book’s publication, some courts have enforced licensing language that restricts reverse engineering. A World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty and an EU Software Directive are now in place. The book discusses these and related issues in a global review.

The authors discuss copyright issues without excessive legalese, and with an eye to their impact on the industry. In a similar manner, they explain the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998, including its legislative history and a review of the exceptions that allow circumvention of technology protection. The authors also examine court decisions related to DMCA interoperability; the latest decisions discussed are from mid-2010.

In addition to legislative decisions, the book includes a chapter on “Contractual Limitations on Reverse Engineering.” Though the EU Software Directive prohibits these provisions, some US court decisions uphold negotiated restrictions. The book also discusses in detail the Australian legal landscape and resulting legislation. Similarly, the book reviews the laws in Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Korea, and Israel. Finally, the authors examine the impact of software patent law and proposed patent legislation before Congress.

A statutory index reproduces relevant portions of the US Copyright Act, and a general index contains the case names discussed. I would have preferred a separate listing of chronological case names by jurisdiction. Nevertheless, this is a decent source for the law of interfaces. Software developers and managers, as well as individuals involved in intellectual property, will find this discussion beneficial.