Final answer:
True, protecting computer software has proven to be difficult due to the lack of clear categorization under the law. Patent law covers inventions, copyright protects books and art, but the application of these protections to software is uncertain. Trade secrets provide an alternate form of protection for valuable information that is not covered by patents or copyrights.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, protecting computer software has indeed proven to be difficult because it has not been well categorized under the law.
Roughly speaking, patent law covers inventions and copyright protects books, songs, and art. However, in certain areas like the invention of new software, it has been unclear whether patent or copyright protection should apply. This lack of clarity has made it challenging to establish strong legal protections for computer software.
Additionally, there is a body of law called trade secrets, which companies can use to protect valuable information that is not covered by patent or copyright protection. Trade secrets are not explicitly protected by legislation but are kept secret by the company and not allowed to be stolen by competing firms.