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Licensing My Program

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  • 06-07-2007 1:58pm
    #1
    aidanmcg
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭


    I have just created a web application in php. I have to present this to a number of people in the next few weeks. I want to protect the work that I have done so that any future developments with the project have to be approved by me and that I remain in control of the application unless I say otherwise. How can I go about protecting my work?


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    #2
    Inspector Gadget
    Registered Users Posts: 1,393 ✭✭✭Inspector Gadget


    Well, as far as I can see with this, there are two facets:

    1) Protecting the idea of your application
    2) Protecting the code that implements the idea

    Neither are particularly straightforward; of the two, the second (protecting the code) is a little more attainable - don't share the code until you get what you want, or obfuscate it if you have to. Protecting the _idea_, on the other hand, is virtually impossible, short of some sort of patent or similar, but even then you have to be prepared to defend that patent for it to mean anything. Even at that, Europe doesn't (yet) have software patents, which I believe to be a good thing.

    Gadget


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    #3
    sh_o
    Closed Accounts Posts: 198 ✭✭sh_o


    If it is an application that you think you can market and make money from by selling it, then you should probably speak to a lawyer to get the license drafted properly for you.
    Otherwise you could use a 'standard licence' that is freely modifiable, then you would just need to put an extra few terms/ amend some terms in the permitted uses or authorised uses sections to reflect what you want.

    I am not sure if the Irish Software Association or similar organisations provide freely modifiable licence precedent agreements - maybe someone else on here can help on this?


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    #4
    damnyanks
    Registered Users Posts: 4,276 ✭✭✭damnyanks


    No way you can protect the idea if its a software application. Don't worry though most people won't bother stealing the idea even if its amazing.


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    #5
    Evil Phil
    Registered Users Posts: 7,468 ✭✭✭Evil Phil


    aidanmcg wrote:
    I have just created a web application in php. I have to present this to a number of people in the next few weeks. I want to protect the work that I have done so that any future developments with the project have to be approved by me and that I remain in control of the application unless I say otherwise. How can I go about protecting my work?

    Sounds like you need an NDA. That's a Non Disclosure Agreement. You'll need a solicitor to write one up for you. Get all the parties viewing your app and code to sign it.

    If this is a college project then it may be that the college already legally own your code. You'll need to check that yourself.


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