U.S. Copyright Act: Primary federal legislation (17 U.S.C.) governing copyright law, essential for protecting original works of authorship including software code
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA): Federal law addressing digital copyright issues, including anti-circumvention provisions and safe harbor protections
U.S. Patent Act: Federal legislation (35 U.S.C.) governing patent law, relevant for software-related patents and patent rights in open source licenses
Lanham Act: Federal trademark law (15 U.S.C.) protecting software names, logos, and brand identifiers in open source projects
State Contract Laws: Various state-specific laws governing contract formation, enforcement, and interpretation of license agreements
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC): Standardized state laws governing commercial transactions, including software licensing and warranty provisions
Export Administration Regulations (EAR): Federal regulations controlling the export of commercial and dual-use software and technology
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: Federal law governing written warranties on consumer products, affecting warranty disclaimers in software licenses
State Tort Laws: State-specific laws governing civil wrongs and liability, relevant for limitation of liability clauses in licenses
State Data Protection Laws: Various state laws governing data privacy and security requirements for software distribution and use
Sherman Antitrust Act: Federal antitrust law preventing anti-competitive practices, relevant for license terms affecting competition
Berne Convention: International treaty governing copyright protection across member countries for software distribution
WIPO Copyright Treaty: International agreement extending copyright protection to software and addressing digital environment issues
America Invents Act: Federal law reforming patent system, affecting how software-related patents are handled and protected
International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR): Federal regulations controlling export of defense-related technology, including certain types of software
