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How to copyright software, do I need to do it?

by dragon12
7 replies
Hello everybody,

I just created a software program (and a logo and a name for this softwareprogram)
so i can sell it. now i have heard about copyrighting your work is every importand
so nobody can steal my work and get my code work once they manage
to hack my software program.

but i have searched on many websites though google
and i see allot of website saying that once you put something online
it is automaticly copyrighted so i dont have to do anyhing.
other website say the complete opposite that it is very importand to do so

i have tried to go to the copyright official website but it doesnt work, maybe because i dont life in the US but in the Netherland.

can somebody help me with the, sent me a link or anything else that will help
Thanks in advance.
#copyright #software
  • Profile picture of the author zefriks
    Copyright... Maybe it's about DMCA? Every country have a respect and rules about digital copyright and trademarks, but I don't how it work in the internet.
    But if you feel worry about your software copyright, you can sell your software through marketplace like envato. They are the one of digital marketplace who respect about software copyright that published by its authors.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
    Originally Posted by dragon12 View Post

    I just created a software program (and a logo and a name for this softwareprogram)
    so i can sell it. now i have heard about copyrighting your work is every importand
    so nobody can steal my work and get my code work once they manage
    to hack my software program.
    Copyright is automatically bestowed on the creator (i.e. you), but it does nothing to physically protect your code from download. Nor does it prohibit your code from running on someone else's machine once they do manage to download a copy.

    Registering the copyright on your software makes it easier to prove your ownership in a court of law, but copyright protection is really nothing more than a way to document the fact that you are the owner.

    To truly protect your software from illegal usage, you need to provide a unique license key with each copy sold, and the software needs to insure (i.e. at start up) the existence of a valid license key for that specific copy.

    The general consensus here (based on previous discussions on this forum) seems to be that license key validation is not worth the effort, and that you should just accept the fact that you will experience some amount of lost revenue from stolen copies.

    I don't happen to agree with the "general consensus", and think that the reason most marketers take this attitude is because they just don't know how to implement license key protection in their software product(s).
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  • Profile picture of the author DIABL0
    I've been developing software for 20 years.

    Selling software without a license key is insane!

    You really want the program that verifies the key to run on two machines. That way if for any reason the first machine is down or there is a network problem and the machine can't be reached, the second machine can verify the key.

    Nothing will piss customers off more than starting the program and it fails to run because the key can't be verified. So by running on two machines, it will be very unlikely that both are ever unreachable at the same time.
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    • Profile picture of the author dragon12
      Well i forgot to mention that my program has a login system connected to the internet, and a system thats checks if the account matches the buyers computer by checking the (unique) number on the motheboard it is unpossible to chance that by anybody, so the program has a very good security system thats not what i am afraid of.

      but what i am afraid of is that people use hacking software to crack the program and get the original codings and copy of my program and then sell it.

      And i also payed a coder on freelancer, so does he own the program? or me , i am the only one that has putted it online on my website, how does it work, can somebody help me with it?...

      and i also came up with a name and a logo (that i designed myself) for the program but i dont know if it is taken yet. you have allot of experience with selling software can you help me with anserwing these questions.
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      • Profile picture of the author 5ervant
        And i also payed a coder on freelancer, so does he own the program? or me , i am the only one that has putted it online on my website, how does it work, can somebody help me with it?...
        You both own the code like the song writer your coder and the band as yourself, both can use the code.

        Can I know your website? And your prepared app marketplace where you want to sell your software? They will help you copyright your software.

        I've been developing software for 20 years.

        Selling software without a license key is insane!
        DIABL0 as you've been developing software for 20 years, can you answer what's the best app marketplace for desktop applications?
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  • Profile picture of the author 5ervant
    And i also payed a coder on freelancer, so does he own the program? or me , i am the only one that has putted it online on my website, how does it work, can somebody help me with it?...
    You both own the code like the song writer your coder and the band as yourself, both can use the code.

    May I know your website? And your prepared app marketplace where you want to sell your software? They will help you copyright your software.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
      Originally Posted by 5ervant View Post

      You both own the code like the song writer your coder and the band as yourself, both can use the code.
      Disregard this answer. It is simply NOT true.

      While the general rule is that the "creator" owns the copyright, when a business or individual contracts another party to publish something (i.e. software), the contractor is legally the creator (even though they created nothing) and therefore automatically holds the copyright.

      In a court of law, a company or individual who has been contracted to develop a product on behalf of another party does not even own "personal" rights to the product created. He/she has developed the product on behalf of the contracting party and his/her rights are limited to the pay received under the terms of that contract.

      Using your example... If a song writer creates a song under contract to a band/performer, you'll probably never hear the song writer's name. If the song writer creates a song "intended for" a particular artist (a more common occurrence) he/she still has to convince that artist to actually produce their own version (recording) of the song, but the song writer can then sell (to other artists) the right to record their own version.
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