Protection of websites

Websites are almost one of the oldest products among computer-based technologies. In the course of time, deep rooted and rapid changes and developments have also affected websites. Therefore, websites may have various types of appearances, different technical infrastructures and usage for different purposes. By means of the technologies used nowadays, there are many websites having the features of complexity and originality. The individuals involved in the creation of the websites during development and design process make an effort and spend sum of money for the relevant creation, therefore they aim to create a distinctive and unique website. Considering the efforts made for the website and creating a unique and original work along with the commercial volume such websites may create today, it should be concluded that websites are required to be protected under the law. However, such protection should be ensured to the whole website making direct contact with the users other than the particular legal protection providing to the elements of the website. In other words, there should be a legal protection covers the website as a whole. Yet the efforts made to create a website concentrate upon ensuring the particular elements to make sense in the form of a whole, but not creating such particular elements solely. Within the scope of our study, firstly the details of the websites are assessed to determine the legal protection providing to the websites; then protection mechanisms in our legislation are addressed to indicate the legal protection to be provided and lastly our considerations are expressed. Within this scope, the main focus of our study is the law related to intellectual works. Due to the fact that fundamental values of the websites require legal protection are the originality of the creation and bearing the characteristic of the author in the relevant work. Additionally, in the related sections of this study, various technological infrastructures of the websites and the points whose the scope of the legal protection may change are discussed and solutions for such issues are proposed.