In United States copyright law, Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs, section 117 of the US Copyright Act, codifies part of the first-sale doctrine. It is a limitation on the rights granted to holders of copyright on computer programs. The limitation allows the owner of a particular copy of a copyrighted computer program to make copies or adaptions of the program for any of a number of reasons:

1. Utilization of the program. The user is allowed to install the software to his hard disk and run the software in memory.
2. Making backup and archival copies. The user is allowed to make copies of the software to protect himself from loss in the event of the original distribution media being damaged.
3. Making copies of software in order to repair or maintain machines, provided that the copies used in repairing the machine is destroyed after the repair or maintenance is complete.

The law allows any copies that are created for the above purposes to be transferred when the software is sold, only along with the copy made to prepare them. Adaptions made can not be transferred without permission from the copyright holder.

See also

While it's not part of this section, it is also lawful to reverse engineer software for compatibility purposes.

External link

• Text of section 117 (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#117)