A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

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What is source code typically protected by?

Its complexity
The use of object code
Its lack of security, allowing for copyright infringement
The nature of high-level programming languages

The correct answer is: Its lack of security, allowing for copyright infringement

Source code is primarily protected by copyright law rather than any inherent qualities of the code itself. Copyright laws provide legal protection to the creator of the source code, granting them exclusive rights to use, reproduce, and distribute their work. This legal framework is crucial as it discourages unauthorized copying, modification, or distribution of the code without the owner's permission. While source code may have qualities that make it complex or difficult to understand, this complexity alone does not provide legal protection. Similarly, object code, which is the compiled version of source code that a computer can execute, also does not offer protection; rather, it is the source code that is subject to copyright. The nature of high-level programming languages can facilitate or complicate understanding and, therefore, does not in itself provide protection. The assertion about a lack of security leading to copyright infringement misses the point about the proactive measures provided by copyright law. So while complexities and language characteristics can affect usability or accessibility, they do not constitute a means of protection, unlike copyright, which is the proper legal framework for safeguarding intellectual property rights in source code.