developer.* Blogs - Open Discussion Thread for "Who Owns Your Software? Software Copyright and the Work for Hire Doctrine" by Justin Daniels - Comments

A Second - Thanks Justin

lonebyte — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 19:35:21 -0800

Agreeably, it was a thought provoking article.

It's an area I have on my list to checkout, your article and reference articles make it easier.

I do not want to become an expert in copy rights, but do want to understand how they may affect me in some future endeavor

Thanks, Justin

Edward G Nilges — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 22:19:20 -0800

Nothing like a good lawyer. I wasn't aware that software did not fit into the list of covered "work for hire" categories.

However, I can well see many companies shoehorning a program into the "collective work" category. In the case you describe, the shop owner could say, "Ed's computer program was part of my Enterprise vision and as such was collective work done for hire".

Companies are in fact allowed, to an extent individuals are not, to construct frivolous and ad-hoc arguments like the above turkey.

I claim in my book publicity that I have written millions of lines of code, because I have. It would be most amusing if I turn out to own a substantive piece of Corporate America.

But I won't hang by my thumbs.

That said, give me a shout by way of email at spinoza1111@yahoo.com when you have the time, Counselor (yeah, I know, I know, attorneys hate it when you call 'em Counselor).

Open Discussion Thread for "Who Owns Your Software? Software Copyright and the Work for Hire Doctrine" by Justin Daniels

Daniel Read — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 18:30:05 -0800

This an open discussion thread for the article published in developer.* Magazine called "Who Owns Your Software? Software Copyright and the Work for Hire Doctrine," by Justin Daniels. If you haven't already, you can read it here, then add your comments below.