Legal uncertainty under EU acquis for the author of Graphical User Interface design - A new sui generis protection needed?

Abstract: This thesis is about the legal protection of the Intellectual Property (IP) of the design of the graphical user interface (GUI) for computer programs aka software. The research into this matter of law was done by finding out and analysing how this protection is provided through international treaties, statutory law and case law. It concludes that there is a certain amount of legal uncertainty within the area researched and that full harmonization of IPRs within EU most probably would remove this issue and thereby benefit the individual author. This thesis takes the reader on a journey where we will explore the dimension where law and technology meet and merge.