Stealing Code
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- oddslob
I realize this a probably a question for a lawyer, but what the hell - you guys are experts at chicks wearing socks, and animated gifs... why not this?!
So what are the *legalities* behind having people use your html / javascript / source code without your permission? If the code is publically available / visible, does that constitute as public domain? how would one prove that they've had their code stolen, even if only a majority has been 'stolen' but then lightly modified? Is this a grey area? Are there cases where developers have sued for being ripped and won? What can someone do to protect themselves?
Many thank yous for your input!!!
- oddslob0
One thing - couldnt someone just say they used your code to 'learn how to do it'? if the variables / style names are modified technically could they claim they just wrote it themselves... Does re-typing the code count as recreating it?!? WTF?!?! HELP!?!? WHERES MY MONEYSS!?
- registe0
you wouldn't download an mp3 would you?
- SteveJobs0
good luck with that.
- Continuity0
Talk to a lawyer.
- TResudek0
If someone takes your code directly without any changes that is pretty tacky and lazy. If they like something you've done and look at your code so that they can learn how to do it themselves then I think that is fair game. That is probably how most of us learn.
I can't imagine that there is anything on front-end code (html,css,js) that is unique enough that you could claim ownership of it. It'd probably be a tough case to defend.
- oddslob0
thanks for the input. 'talk to a lawyer' is prolly the best advice i guess.
- ukit0
You may wish to refer to the Supreme Court case "ɥsɐq v. Rest of Internet" (2011)
- bliznutty0
html is markup - which means you can't copyright it b/c you're simply using it to hold (markup) your data
any scripting you do that might contain creativity or some level of effort you would like to protect - you can easily not expose this code to the public (if you do it's your fault) - if you don't expose it and you're hacked in order to obtain it then YES you do have legal issues you could pursue.. this shouldn't be an issue
- oddslob0
lol
- SteveJobs0
yet, another reason why content is king. if the success of your site is hinged off of some client-side trickery, you need to re-think your business model.
- ukit0
"html is markup - which means you can't copyright it b/c you're simply using it to hold (markup) your data"
Not really true. Software developers do copyright code, and there's nothing really special about HTML in this regard. It's probably more the case that the issue has never been pursued that far.
- sureshot0
just call the police.
- BattleAxe0
did you have a end user agreement on your site? if not then start with that
- registe0
due to the nature of the code, you could code two sites completely different and have the same visual output.
ie file names, code structure, fle locations, methods of code consolidation, even image file size, etc.
example:
give the same brief to 2 psd to xhtml companies and see what you get back. both would likely be wholly different form what i'd make if given the same ps. all would display online within the prearranged confinements of the html structure though.
- oddslob0
Im saying what if the visual output is different, but the code that makes up that visual output is essentially the same (say in the case of a javascript game where the sprites/music/gameplay was changed but the underlying engine stayed the same)
- thats a intellectual property violation/ The 'engine' is what makes it goVikingKingEleven
- ukit0
Like people said it would be a tough case to prove, and probably no one really bothered before.
Having said that, there's nothing inherently "uncopyrightable" about HTML or any other kind of code or markup like blitznutty tried to claim above. It all adds up to your intellectual property, and the similarity of the code would be a step towards proving that.
- registe0
i'm sure with enough "care" any framework could be torn apart into the components necessary for a wordpress rework
that said, you could likely copyright your code published or not. you may have to classify your work as a work of fact, fiction, or technical schematic to patent it. (costing $1,000s working with a patent lawyer)
presuming that's occurred, you'll now need to invest financially into a system or time or both to begin searching out offenders and proceeding legally. not unlike you see done by stock photo companies off searching the web for their image code blocks.
if you wanted to get into this business it seems pretty open, but as html is published under particular copyrights, maybe our use agreement to code with it prevents us from protecting it so aggressively
- oddslob0
@VikingKingEleven,
Thats what I was thinking too, but technically wouldnt a well designed css / html template be intellectual property as well.?Like what @registe sez...
- registe0
someone else read it to see if it's relevant
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/c…