思想與表達二分與合併原則於功能性電腦程式著作之適用

Application of Doctrines of Idea-Expression Dichotomy and Merger on Functional Computer Programs

10.53106/207873752024010028002

胡心蘭(HU Hsin-Lan)

谷哥訴甲骨文案 ； 電腦程式 ； 著作權適格性 ； 思想與表達二分原則 ； 合併原則 ； 必要場景原則 ； 功能性觀念 ； Google v. Oracle ； Computer Program ； Copyrightability ； Idea-Expression Dichotomy ； Merger Doctrine ； Scenes a Faire ； Functional Concepts

中正財經法學

28期（2024 / 01 / 01）

53 - 102

繁體中文;英文

美國聯邦最高法院於2021年4月5日針對已訴訟歷時10年的Google v. Oracle案作出最終判決，多數決意見看似處理Google抄襲Oracle的Java語言裡的37個API封包以創建自己Android系統之利用行為是否成立合理使用，但主審Breyer大法官卻以破格之方式主導合理使用分析，在字裡行間中偷渡其對具功能性之電腦程式著作受著作權保護範圍之觀點，即電腦程式著作本質上之功能性以致離著作權保護之核心甚遠：「在某些情況下，尤其是具著作權適格性與不具適格性之素材密不可分的情況，著作權賦予之保護是『薄弱』的。」本文將試圖驗證Breyer大法官所稱之「密不可分」，即係思想與表達合併原則之體現。此外，電腦程式受著作權法保護之範圍為何？蓋電腦程式於著作權法下歸類為文學著作，可為著作權保護之標的，然除了電腦程式之編碼外，程式中非文字之部分，如整體之結構、排序、組織、屏幕顯示，項目單結構，和使用者界面等，皆有可能屬電腦程式著作保護之範疇。而判斷電腦程式受著作權法保護範圍之關鍵，在於根據「思想與表達二分原則」，區分其中受著作權保護之「表達」，與不受著作權保護之「思想」及其他如「程序、製程、系統、操作方法」等「功能性觀念」，而電腦程式中「應功能性之考量」而不得不為之安排，則應藉由「合併原則」一併排除著作權之保護，以劃分著作權法與專利法各司之界線。

The United States Supreme Court issued its final ruling on April 5, 2021, in the long-standing litigation of Google v. Oracle. The majority opinion appears to address whether Google's use of 37 API packages from Oracle's Java language to create its Android system constitutes fair use. However, Justice Breyer took an unconventional approach in leading the fair use analysis, subtly expressing his view that computer programs with functional aspects are far removed from the core of copyright protection. He stated that "in some circumstances, say, where copyrightable material is bound up with uncopyrightable material, copyright protection is 'thin'." This article seeks to verify Justice Breyer's notion of bound up, which embodies the principle of merger of idea and expression. Furthermore, what is the scope of copyright protection for computer programs? Computer programs are classified as literary works under copyright law and are eligible for copyright protection. Apart from the coding of computer programs, non-textual elements such as the structure, sequence, organization (SSO), screen displays, menu structures, and user interfaces etc., may fall within the realm of protection for computer program works. The key to determining the scope of copyright protection for computer programs lies in applying the "Idea-Expression Dichotomy" doctrine to distinguish between protected "expression" and unprotected "idea" or other functional concepts such as "procedures, processes, systems, and methods of operation." Functional elements in computer programs necessitated by their functionality should be excluded from copyright protection through the application of the "merger doctrine," thereby delineating the boundary between copyright law and patent law.