(A) Copyright Act, 1997 – The Act states that literary and artistic works which are original intellectual creations are protected as copyright and lists computer programs as such works. The owner of the computer program has the all normal exclusive rights in relation to his work, with the exception that the rights of rental or public lending of the computer program do not apply where the program itself is not the essential object of the rental or lending.

(B) The Patent Act, 1996 – The Act specifically excludes protection for literary, artistic and other aesthetic works. However, it is possible that the technical aspects of computer programs may qualify for protection, once they satisfy the criteria of patentability.