Guidelines on the Allocation of ISBNs to Computer Software
Eligible :
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Software containing encoded text or static graphics which is complete within itself and specifically intended for output in human readable form.
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Computer games primarily intended to educate through a combination of graphics and text. For example, a game for children that is intended to be educational by virtue of text responses and help screens, as opposed to a game of purely entertainment value.
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Software that is primarily intended to instruct, such as chess software that teaches a player the moves and strategy of the game, but not software which is solely designed to allow the user to play the game for entertainment.
Ineligible :
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Software containing code which is primarily intended for use within machines. For examples, system or application software.
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Software containing code which requires data to be added to it in order to function fully. For example, database software, word processing, DTP packages, etc.
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Computer games solely or primarily intended for entertainment, irrespective of the age group at whom the product is aimed.
(Extracted from ISBN Review 16 (1995))