Copyrighting my code

Discussions of secure PHP coding. Security in software is important, so don't be afraid to ask. And when answering: be anal. Nitpick. No security vulnerability is too small.

Moderator: General Moderators

Roja
Tutorials Group
Posts: 2692
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2004 10:30 pm

Post by Roja »

Maugrim_The_Reaper wrote:It may be old fashioned but where else do you verify the date the copyright was in place outside of registering the claim?

Might be different in the US I'll grant.
In the US, the method now generally endorsed/enforced is registering through the US Copyright office. Its easy, only costs $30, and is well documented.

It also has the benefit of being a third-party that can independently verify your claims, and it also shows you care enough to make it happen. :)
User avatar
a94060
Forum Regular
Posts: 543
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:53 pm

Post by a94060 »

why do people sell php code/copyright? its an open source language. if you reallyn need it,write it!!! i think that people should not sell open source things like php scripts. its also been broken and stuff.

-thats just my opinion
User avatar
feyd
Neighborhood Spidermoddy
Posts: 31559
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:24 pm
Location: Bothell, Washington, USA

Post by feyd »

Writing software with an open source product does not make your software open source normally (without some "odd" licensing)
Roja
Tutorials Group
Posts: 2692
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2004 10:30 pm

Post by Roja »

a94060 wrote:why do people sell php code/copyright?
Because they want to earn a living doing what they enjoy. Nothing wrong with that. But please don't equate php code to copyright - they aren't related at all.
a94060 wrote:its an open source language.
Yes, the language (since it is not compiled) results in files being easy to view, thats not the same as being an "open source" language. It happens by default, not by intent.
a94060 wrote:if you reallyn need it,write it!!!
As a good example, the game I work on (BNT) is a product some might (eventually) consider trying to sell. To write it again from scratch with the same level of functionality would easily take 2-3 years, with a team of talented programmers.

Sometimes that level of involvement is simply impossible.
a94060 wrote:i think that people should not sell open source things like php scripts.
Nothing wrong with *selling* code. The problem is in trying to control the code. Encrypting the code means you lose openness, trust, and more. Encrypting the code is trivial protection at best. Copyright and contracts on the other hand offer substantial protection.

Think about RedHat Linux. Its opensource (yay!), its freedom software (Under the GPL), and they charge for it. They also have a free/community/development version (Fedora). They have the best of all worlds generally.

There is nothing wrong with selling software. More power to anyone that can. Encryption, on the other hand, is just a technical means to *control* a user. Such things should be viewed as exactly that - an arrogance by the content producer.
User avatar
a94060
Forum Regular
Posts: 543
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:53 pm

Post by a94060 »

well,most of the software is usually released as open source (like phpbb) and many people use it. I dont see what kind of program would be worth spending the money for it.
User avatar
Benjamin
Site Administrator
Posts: 6935
Joined: Sun May 19, 2002 10:24 pm

Post by Benjamin »

Any piece of software that cost less than the price it costs you to either make it yourself (how much are you worth per hour), or pay someone to make it, is worth it's price if you can't find it anywhere else for a lower price. Make sense?
User avatar
irisblaze
Forum Newbie
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:24 am
Location: Palestine
Contact:

Post by irisblaze »

ok now i'm totally convinced that encrypting the code is wrong, anyway m not going to sell the code, i only want to give it away for free but in the same time I want ppl who are using it to know that it's mine so I can get job because of that code, some ppl just change the link or the copyright to their own link and they put their names in the copyright note, I want legally to copyright my code, but it's free and frankly I still didn't get a decent job, and I can't afford 100 $ to copyright my code, now that what was the problem but thanx god I got somebody to get my code copyrighted for free and give them a lisence to use the code in their site without a link back to my site or email or anything else and I'm satisfied with that.

thank you very much for your help guys :mrgreen:
User avatar
Maugrim_The_Reaper
DevNet Master
Posts: 2704
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:43 am
Location: Ireland

Post by Maugrim_The_Reaper »

Just to note - copyright costs nothing. It's a right you have the moment you create something new. So of you write a PHP script, its already copyrighted - registering that copyright is simply a matter of ensuring someone cannot dispute your rights by having a public record of your copyright.
Post Reply