In Canada software is protected as a literary work under the Copyright Act of Canada. Copyright is acquired automatically when an original work is generated, the creator is not required to register or mark the work with the copyright symbol in order to be protected.

It varies from country to country. In the US it is Title 17 of the US Code, and in Canada it is the Copyright Act 1985.

Copyright law is a federal law, granted in the Constitution.

Government enacts laws (eg copyright laws). it is then the responsibility of the police to prosecute people who break these laws.

It is therefore the responsibility of the creator of works to follow the copyright procedure for protecting these works as set out in law.

Copyright law.