Beyond the Code: Protection of Non-Textual Features of Software, by Noam Shemtov: Oxford University Press, 2017, ISBN: 978-0-1987-1679-2, 288 pp, £95.00.

There are few areas of legal academic research that have more tangible impact on innovation, social welfare and economic development than computer software protection. Attempts to provide a thorough review of this area of the law have been limited due to the intricate nature of the subject matter. This topical book, however, offers an insightful and lucid synthesis of the most relevant legal sources, technical principles and socio-legal theories in this complex field. Moreover, the book skilfully creates a distinct conceptual basis for analysing the complications that will inevitably materialize as a result of constant technological development in the software industry.

The book offers a perceptive analysis of legal principles and a comparative assessment of the protection of computer software under the current contractual and legal frameworks in the European Union (EU) and USA. These assessments and the author’s opinions are supported by a discussion of the public policy ideals underlying the legal rules in question. For example, the examination of intellectual property rights and their social function gives the reader a clear understanding of the ‘judicial tools’ that may enable courts to create an optimal harmony in the protection provided to computer software via such laws.