Legal Protection of Computer Programs Created Using Software Platforms

This article examines current legal protection issues related to software developed using software platforms. With the widespread implementation of multifunctional and universal platforms in software development, questions concerning copyrights, related rights, and rights to specific software components and source code become increasingly complex and contentious. The paper analyzes peculiarities of legal regulation in Russia, identifies problems related to determining rights holders and the scope of rights requiring protection. It discusses legal conflicts and legislative gaps arising when software is created using third-party platforms. Particular attention is paid to compliance with end-user license agreements (EULA). The research methodology comprises the general dialectical method, general scientific methods (formal logic, comparison, analogy, analysis, and synthesis), and specialized legal methods (comparative legal and formal legal analysis). The main conclusion drawn from the research is the establishment of the principle that the conditions set by the platform rights holder’s end-user license agreement (EULA) cannot impede the emergence of exclusive rights for creating applications and configurations based on these platforms. In the analyzed cases, the newly created software is not considered a constituent part of the platform, which merely serves as a medium for its execution. Existing uncertainties in this issue present significant challenges for both platform users and platform owners. The novelty of the research lies in proposing legislative improvements to achieve more effective and balanced regulation of rights regarding software products created using third-party platforms, considering the interests of developers, platform rights holders, and end-users.