Does anyone have experience with copywriting a program? I'm working on
a program that I want to protect somewhat.  It's more the finished idea
than the source code but that too.

Do I need to see some legal people or is there a cookie cutter resource
available from the web to save me time and money?

Hi Bobo, you have to do two things to copyright your product.

First, you have to display the copyright symbol in a place where your
users will see it.

Second, you have to be able to prove you were the first person in the
world to have a copy of the program/software (thus implying you had to
be the creator.) You can do this easily by putting a copy on a cd and
sending the cd in an envelope to yourself. The stamped date will act as
proof of when you had it and leaving the envelope unopened will make
sure its undeniable that the cd inside was in your possesion all that
time. If it comes to it nobody else will be able to prove they had a
copy before you did. You win.

There is no other way I know of as there is no copyright register.

Hope this helps,

Steve
Bobo wrote:
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Not true (http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#noc).

You've obviously never researched US copyright law, so I'm not sure why you
responded to his question.  Copyright is secured automatically when the work is
created, and a work is "created" when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for
the first time.  However, you need to register your work with the Library of
Congress before you can go after someone in court for copyright infringement.

All these questions are officially answered here:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html

way I know of as there is no copyright register.


Check again:
http://www.copyright.gov/

james





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In addition to the government website, there is a book out precisely on
point, written by a lawyer. Find "Copyright Your Software" by Stephen
Fishman. The book was written in 1994, but the law in this area has not
significantly changed.

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Thanks to all for your replies.  I know about the copyright symbol and
it is the first thing I do when I build the splash screen.  I also know
about sending myself a letter with the code or product in closed.  This
is really insurance.  It was the registration part I was missing.  I'll
check out the copyright web site.

Thanks again for your replies.

That's an old idea and is of dubious value. Get someone who can understand
code to sign and date a printed copy of the source. Remember, under today's
copyright laws, writing the code creates an immediate copyright as of that
date.

You can also get a notary to stamp a copy.

Did you even bother to read the links you were given?  If you had, you would
have learned that the symbol is not required and sending a copy to yourself
doesn't ensure anything.

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