Copyright protection and algorithms

This blogger has been asked if he can recommend any good -- and ideally recent -- articles on copyright protection of algorithms. Although he has seen numerous comments, and indeed participated in a number of discussions with friends and colleagues, on this topic, he has always looked at the question from first principles and can't actually point to any articles on either side of the Atlantic that he has read that relate specifically to copyright rather than patent law.

Can any reader suggest some good reading on this topic, from any jurisdiction and in any language, that can be passed on to the person asking for it? If so, can he or she please post it below as a comment or email me here.