Protection of software within the scope of copyright law

As in many legal systems around the world, it is accepted in Turkish law that software will primarily be protected as a scientific and literary work within the scope of copyright law. The prevailing view, established through international treaties, advocating for the protection of software within copyright law, is based on debates that have persisted for many years, even to this day, rather than being a product of a mere few years. These debates revolve around whether software should be protected under copyright law, patent law, or unfair competition provisions should be adopted. Within the context of these debates, our study aims to elucidate the concept of software and which elements of software may be subject to legal protection. Initially, we will endeavor to explain the fundamental concepts of information technology and software. Subsequently, we will explore whether protection of software is feasible within the frameworks of other branches of law, namely patent law and unfair competition law, and assess the advantages and disadvantages of protecting software under these legal branches. Following these assessments, we will provide a detailed explanation of the primary protection afforded to software within copyright law. In the conclusion of our study, we will attempt to articulate our perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of copyright law protection for software in comparison to other legal branches that have been subject to debate regarding the protection of software.