The EU has ruled that APIs are not copyrightable and the jury is literally still out in the USA. The implications of a decision could have far-reaching consequences for software and API-based businesses. Should APIs be covered by copyright law? Would developers and innovation be stifled by copyrightable APIs? Or would it afford protection over IP? Join the Apigee team for a discussion of the pros and cons, and the potential consequences if APIs are held to be copyrightable.

1. APIs & Copyrights
Moderated by
Brian Pagano
@brianpagano
With commentary from
Sam Ramji Ed Anuff Greg Brail
@sramji @edanuff @gbrail
Anant Jhingran Marsh Gardiner Brian Mulloy
@jhingran @earth2marsh @landlessness

2. groups.google.com/group/api-craft

3. youtube.com/apigee

4. slideshare.net/apigee

5. Topics
• Introductions
• Disclaimers
• Copyright Law Primer
• Oracle vs. Google
• Panel Discussion
• Conclusion

7. @brianpagano
@sramji @edanuff @gbrail
@jhingran @earth2marsh @landlessness

8. Panelist Avenger
Brian Pagano Nick Fury
Sam Ramji Thor
Ed Anuff Hawkeye
Greg Brail Captain America
Anant Jhingran Hulk
Marsh Gardiner Iron Man
Brian Mulloy Wolverine (alternate)

9. DISCLAIMER #1: We are technologists. We are
not lawyers.

10. DISCLAIMER #2: The opinions of the panelist are
not the opinions of any organization or company.

11. Copyright Law Primer

12. Copyright != Trademark != Patent

15. “ A computer program is made up of several different
components, including the source and object code, the
structure, sequence and/or organization of the
program, the user interface, and the function, or
purpose, of the program. Whether a particular
component of a program is protected by a copyright
depends on whether it qualifies as an 'expression' of an
idea, rather than the idea itself.
-John Controls v. Phoenix Control Systems
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Oct. 3, 1989

16. APIs have been copyrightable for more than 22 years.

17. Oracle vs. Google

27. Panel Discussion

29. How will copyrighted APIs impact developer
adoption?

30. Some web API providers have explicitly copied
other web APIs.
What’s up with that, Marsh?

31. Some web APIs are simple wrappers on top of
data, for example /countries/ca/population/2010.
What’s up with that, Anant?

32. What do API copyrights mean for web API
monetization?

33. Will API copyrights destroy the app economy and
the web, Ed and Sam?

34. What should API providers do about their APIs and
copyrights, Greg?

35. Final thoughts?

36. Questions from Audience

37. THANK YOU
Questions and ideas to:
groups.google.com/group/api-craft

38. THANK YOU
Subscribe to API webinars at:
youtube.com/apigee

39. THANK YOU
Subscribe to API slides at:
slideshare.net/apigee

40. THANK YOU
Contact us at: Brian Pagano
@brianpagano
Sam Ramji Ed Anuff Greg Brail
@sramji @edanuff @gbrail
Anant Jhingran Marsh Gardiner Brian Mulloy
@jhingran @earth2marsh @landlessness