‘Data’ is information stored in a computer.
‘Software’ or ‘program’ consists of
i) an algorithm,
ii) a source code and
iii) An object code.
Software can be protected by Copyrights and Trade secret laws. Patenting on software is limited to detailed coding sequences but not final products. Algorithms and object codes cannot be copyrighted. But source code can be copyrighted.
E.g. Buying one copy and reproducing dozens of copies.