In some countries, the law requires that the workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected. be deposited for it to be protected. Pursuant to the Berne ConventionTreaty dating back to 1886 unifying national legislation by issuing minimal standards for the protection of literary and other artistic works. 2014: 168 Member States., a state may, however, not make the protection dependent on such a deposit.