Abstract: [Purpose/Significance] Long-term preservation of digital resources must fully consider the software preservation strategy. In view of the diversity and complexity of software, its rights management and use have become a new challenge. This paper explores the strategy of fair use of software in order to provide support for the development of national science and technology. [Method/Process] By defining the problems existing in the long-term preservation of the software, from the perspective of fair use, the necessary prerequisites and applicable environment for the fair use and long-term preservation of the software are proposed according to different usage scenarios. [Result/Conclusion] Fair use provides a feasible solution for the use of software in the long-term preservation process. In the short term, people should respect the intellectual property rights of the software owner, and the copying, use and analysis of the software should be in accordance with the terms of the contract; In terms of long-term benefits, the long-term preservation of digital resources is a guarantee mechanism to support the development of national science and technology. We should establish a sound long-term preservation policy of software and integrate it into the long-term preservation system of digital resources.

Key words: long-term preservation, digital resource, fair use