In the context of US copyright law, "literary work" includes computer software, because it has a pretty specific legal meaning. See 17 USC § 101 https://www.cop

In the context of US copyright law, "literary work" includes computer software, because it has a pretty specific legal meaning. See 17 USC § 101 https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#101 https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#101 > “Literary works” are works, other than audiovisual works, expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia, regardless of the nature of the material objects, such as books, periodicals, manuscripts, phonorecords, film, tapes, disks, or cards, in which they are embodied. The reason to have this category is mostly to distinguish it from audiovisual works where there's a developed system of compulsory licensing around stuff like paying royalties for playing music on the radio or in public venues. This point has been litigated too, e.g. in Apple v. Franklin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Computer,_Inc._v._Franklin_Computer_Corp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Computer,_Inc._v._Frankl....