Subj : Re: Protecting your code
To   : comp.programming
From : Flavius Vespasianus
Date : Sat Jul 30 2005 06:17 pm

MiniMe <minime@uoft.com> wrote in news:t18je1tt1jq51ch5r3f4pirmt2pbbui56j@
4ax.com:

> Hi all
> 
> Is there any solution to protect your rights or ideas when you write
> code ?
> 
> I am thinking of a way to sign the code, to prove that I am the
> author. My first tought was to use digital signature for this. Let's
> say I have my own company and I buy a digital cetificate from
> VerySign.
> Then I  can use tis certificate to PGP sign the code and to prove that
> at a specific date back in time I was the programmer or at least I had
> the code in my possesion.
> 
> Any other sugestion in this respect would be much appreciated

Disclaimer: This is not legal advice and not intended to create a 
lawyer/client relationship.

Very little is needed for you have rights in your code in the U.S. Simply 
recording the dates of modification is good proof. It sounds like you are 
interested in overkill.

.