ABA Family Legal Guide

Computer Law

Computer Copyright and Trademark Issues

Copying Software and Downloading Entertainment

May I copy software as a backup to protect myself in case my computer crashes?

Yes. Even though your software comes on a disk, most lawyers in this field agree, as do many software manufacturers, that you are entitled to make a backup copy of the software for protection in case the original disk is damaged or defective. In fact, in most software licenses you are authorized to make a backup copy. And a specific section of the copyright law allows you to create a single copy of a computer program for archival purposes. The copy on your computer's hard drive is always vulnerable to a crash or other system disaster, and software companies recognize this as well as anyone--especially since their software often causes the problem! The use of zip drives and other backup media, as well as affordable Internet-based automatic backup solutions, may also be an intelligent way to protect yourself.