Justifying the ‘Back-Step’: Establishing the Foothold of Reverse Engineering within the Indigenous Ethical Parameters of Software Copyright

191-204This paper discusses the subject of reverse engineering in the light of the ethics that surround the realm of utilization of copyrighted material with specified focus on software copyright. It is the contention of the author that an ethical perspective with respect to reverse engineering must stem from the basis of all intellectual property jurisprudence and not a mere ‘market oriented’ interpretation. The paper, thus utilizes both Indian and international legal sources to trace out the growing acceptance of reverse engineering as a viable tool for research and development in the sphere of computer software. It draws specific reference to the Indian copyright law and how its restrictive approach towards reverse engineering of software is a hindrance to the technological development of the nation, inasmuch as it may attempt at statutory protectionism. Author concludes that reverse engineering is essential to the development of intellectual property and it is the restrictions placed upon it, which are unethical