721.9(J) Unacceptable Terminology for an Application to Register a Computer Program
If the applicant asserts a claim in both the copyrightable and uncopyrightable features of the program, the specialist may annotate the application to indicate that the registration does not extend to the uncopyrightable features. If the applicant asserts a claim to copyright in any storage medium or any feature of the program that is uncopyrightable, the registration specialist may communicate with the applicant or may refuse registration if the claim appears to be based solely on those features. Examples of unacceptable terms include the following or any combination of the following:
• Algorithm
• Analysis
• Cassette
• Chip
• Computation
• Computer language(s)
• Computerized
• Data
• Designed program
• Disk
• Drive
• Encrypting
• EPROM
• Flash drive
• Format
• Formatting
• Formula(s)
• Functions
• Hard drive
• Interface
• Language
• Layout
• Logic
• Menu screens
• Mnemonics
• Models
• Object
• Object code
• Object listing
• Organization
• Peripheral(s)
• Printout
• PROM
• RAM (Random Access Memory)
• ROM
• Protocol
• Software methodology
• System
• System design(er)
• Template
• Text of algorithm
• Thumbdrive
• Typeface
• Typefont