Final answer:
The creation of software is typically protected under copyright law, as this covers literary and artistic works including software and code. Software can also be eligible for patent protection under certain conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The intellectually creative nature of a software program typically qualifies it for copyright protection. Copyright laws protect literary and artistic works, which include software and code. When we consider different types of intellectual property, patents cover inventions, copyrights protect authored works like books, songs, arts, and software, trademarks protect brand identity through logos and slogans, and trade secrets involve keeping valuable business information, like the Coca-Cola formula, out of the public domain. The distinction between these protections can be nuanced, especially in technology areas like software development, and sometimes a software may also be eligible for a patent if it meets the criteria of being a novel and non-obvious invention.