TUCoPS :: Cyber Law :: softmark.txt

Software Copyright Requirments

                       INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS NEEDED
                      FOR SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT APPLICATION
                      ----------------------------------

                             M. Lee Murrah
                             Attorney at Law
                             6504 Hillcrest Rd.
                             Roanoke, Texas 76262
                             Metro 430-3760 (Area 817)

         
    Information Needed
    ------------------

         1. Full name and nationality (or domicile) of author.

         2. Birthdate of author, unless the copyright is to be owned by a
    company.  Date of death if author is dead.

         3. If multiple authors, description of what each contributed.

         4. If the applicant is different from the author, a description of
    how the applicant obtained ownership of the software.

         5.  If the registration is to in the name of a company, the full
    name and address of the company and the name and title of the officer
    who will make the application.  If the software was written as an
    employee of a company, the software is considered a "work for hire", and
    the company is considered the "author".
    
         6.  Year the software was created.

         7.  Full date the software was first published (if it has been
    published), and the country in which first published.

         8.  If the software is being published commercially, the name and
    address of the publisher.

    Documents Needed
    ----------------

         1.  A full printout of the software source code for file
    documentation purposes.  Be sure the source code has a comment or
    remark at the beginning with the title of the software and your
    copyright notice.  See BULLETINS for proper form of copyright notice.
         
         2.  A printout of the software object code (hexadecimal listing)
    for file documentation purposes.  Be sure the object code includes a
    copyright notice that appears on the initial screen EVERY TIME THE
    SOFTWARE IS RUN.  See BULLETINS for proper form of copyright notice.

         3.  Three (3) special copies of the software for deposit with the
    application.  The guidelines in 1 and 2 immediately above regarding
    copyright notice should be followed, EXCEPT that certain portions of
    the deposit copies may be omitted or be blacked out as described below.

         4.  Documentation for the software.  Be sure the documentation has
    a copyright notice on the title page.  See BULLETINS for proper form of
    copyright notice.

         5.  Copy of registration previous version of the software, if
    any.

        
    Software Deposit Guidelines
    ---------------------------

         You have three options for making deposits of software with your
    application:

         1.  Deposit the first 25 and last 25 pages of the SOURCE listing.
    If less than 50 pages, then all must be submitted.

         2.  Deposit all the object code under the "rule of doubt."

         3.  Deposit the source and/or object code with portions omitted or
    blacked out, with a special "petition for special relief",as follows:

             (a) Submit the first and last 25 pages of the SOURCE code with
    up to 50% blacked out.

             (b) Submit the first and last 10 pages of the SOURCE code
    with none blacked out.  If less than 20 pages, then all must be
    submitted.

             (c) Submit the first and last 25 pages of the OBJECT code plus
    any 10 or more consecutive pages of the SOURCE CODE.  If the object
    code is less than 50 pages, then all must be submitted.

         Clearly, in any case you would want to do two things: (1) place
    the "meat" of the program in the middle part which may be omitted under
    the guidelines, and (2) double or triple space your source listing.

         RECOMMENDATION:  Option 3 with the option ( a, b, or c) which
    reveals the least amount of sensitive code is usually the best choice.

    
 

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