What Is Meant by Software Copyright?

Considerations

• If you are the owner or author of a software program, it is in your best interest to keep it from being freely copied and distributed by others. The process of obtaining a copyright is easy and inexpensive.
  
  

The Facts

• Legally, as soon as you create a software program in tangible form, it is protected under the law, even without going through the official copyright process.
  
  

Protection

• As a copyrighted work, no one can copy, distribute, display or change anything about the software without your explicit permission.
  
  

Prevention

• The problem with not taking all of the necessary steps to protect your software is that you are left with the burden of proof if a potential or actual infringement problem arises.
  
  

U.S. Copyright Office

• By registering your software with the U.S. Copyright Office, you gain the benefits of proof of your authorship, the ability to sue infringers and the legal right to collect statutory damages.