应用程序编程接口“可版权性”的否定——以甲骨文诉谷歌应用程序编程接口版权争议为例

The Negation of"Copyrightability"of Application Programming Interfaces——Taking Oracle v.Google Application Programming Interface Copyright Controversy as an Example

应用程序编程接口对实现软件之间及软件与操作系统之间的互操作至关重要,在软件行业中具有重要地位。接口是否具有可版权性这一问题,在美国经历了由争议到共识,再到共识被推翻的过程。应用程序接口可版权性涉及软件保护范围的基础性问题,无论是适用版权法"合并"规则,还是考虑接口本身的"互操作"功能,兼及考量软件产业的创新发展和有效竞争的需要,均应排除应用程序编程接口的可版权性。

Application programming interfaces(API)are critical to the interoperability of software and operating systems,which play an important role in the software industry.The question of whether an interface is copyrightable has gone through a transition from dispute to consensus and then to the overthrow of consensus in the United States.The copyrightability of the API involves fundamental issues in the scope of software protection.Whether to apply the"merger"rules of copyright law or consider its own"interoperability"functions,and consider the needs of innovation and effective competition in the software industry,the copyrightability of API should be excluded.