Subj : Re: Protecting your code
To   : comp.programming
From : Bob McConnell
Date : Mon Aug 08 2005 01:04 am

On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 23:39:03 -0400, MiniMe <minime@uoft.com> wrote:

>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
>
>Thank you
>Mine Me

You have two issues here. What do you have to do to protect
copyrighted material, and what license(s) do you use to allow others
to legally use it. The best answer to your questions is:

1. Hire a good lawyer and talk to him about copyrights and protecting
your property.

2. Do what he tells you.

3. If someone violates your chosen license and copyright, you have the
right to hire a lawyer to sue them. After that, it is up to the
courts.

For more introductory info, there have been several discussions about
copyrights and software licensing at www.groklaw.net.

Bob McConnell
N2SPP

.