Philosophy of Computer Science

Position Paper #4:

What Is a Computer Program?

Last Update: 23 March 2010

Note: NEW or UPDATED material is highlighted


For this position paper, I would like you to evaluate the following argument:

  1. A special-purpose computer (i.e., a computer that does just one task) is essentially a hardwired computer program.

  2. Such a hardwired computer program is a physical machine.

  3. Physical machines can be patented.

  4. Therefore, such a hardwired computer program can be patented.

  5. The printed text of a computer program is a "literary work" (i.e., a piece of writing) in the sense of the copyright law.

  6. Literary works can be copyrighted.

  7. Therefore, such a computer program can be copyrighted.

  8. Nothing can be both patented and copyrighted.

    • Note: This premise is a matter of law. You must accept it as true. But you can argue that the law should be changed.

  9. There is no computational or other relevant difference between the hardwired computer program and its textual counterpart
    (except for the different media in which they are implemented, one being hardwired and the other being written on, say, a piece of paper).

  10. Therefore, computer programs can be both patented and copyrighted.

To help you evaluate this argument (which we'll look at in more detail in lecture later this semester), here are some extracts from some relevant websites:

  1. From the official US Patent Office definition of "patent":

  2. The Patent Office definition of "invention":

  3. The official US Copyright Office definition of "copyright" [PDF]:

  4. From the same website [PDF]:

To evaluate this argument, you must state whether the argument is valid and you must state whether and why you agree or disagree with each premise.
Remember:

This means, of course, that you have to evaluate each premise and each (sub-)argument, and, as usual, I also want you to evaluate the conclusion independently of whether you think that it follows validly or doesn't follow validly from its premises.


  1. For this position paper, I want to experiment with something a little bit different.

    Instead of writing a first draft of your paper, I simply want you to fill in the attached "thinksheet", which will be an outline of your argument analysis.

    You will write the paper after peer-editing the thinksheets.

  2. Please bring of your filled-out thinksheet to lecture on the due date.

DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF LECTURE, MONDAY, MARCH 29



Copyright © 2010 by William J. Rapaport (rapaport@buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/584/S10/pospaper4.html-20100323












PhilCS 4/584, Spring 2010	NAME:
========================================================================
Thinksheet for Position Paper #4:  What Is a Computer Program?
========================================================================
Statement               |Agree?|    Why?
(abbreviated versions of|(T?F?)|   (use additional sheets if needed)
 prems & conc of arg't) |      |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. A special-purpose    |      |                   
   computer is          |      |                   
   essentially a hard-  |      |                   
   wired computer prog. |      |                   
                        |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Such a hardwired     |      |                   
   comp.prog. is a      |      |                   
   physical machine     |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Physical machines    |      |                   
   can be patented      |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Such a hardwired     |      |                   
   comp.prog. can be    |      |                   
   patented             |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1,2,3/.'.4 is valid    |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. The printed text of  |      |                   
   a comp.prog. is a    |      |                   
   "lit.work" in the    |      |                   
   sense of the (c) law |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Lit.works can be (c) |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. The printed text of  |      |                   
   a comprog can be (c) |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5,6/.'.7 is valid      |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Nothing can be both  |      |                   
   patented & (c)       |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. There's no comp'n'l  |      |                   
   or other diff. betw. |      |                   
   the hardwired comp.  |      |                   
   prog. & its textual  |      |                   
   counterpart...       |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Comprogs can be both|      |                   
    patented & (c)      |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATED                 |      |
 4,7,9/.'.10 is valid   |      |                   
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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