Quote:
Originally posted by Gman.357
Is there an example documented where this is proven? Making something similar (but not exact) to something else is not a copyright violation. If this were true, everyone would sue everyone.
|
I don't mean just making something similar or even that does the same thing - this is only an issue if patents are involved. I mean if the acutal code itself is implemented in a similar fashion (ie - it incorporates ideas / algorithms) or goes about solving the problems in the same way. This is not an issue if the programmers of the supposed offending software have never seen the source code to the other software - if they write the code independently and happen to do so a similar fashion, then so be it.
Consider the following. You write a program that solves a complicated problem. I then am given the opportunity to look at the source code for whatever reason and do so. I then write a program that does the same thing as yours. I don't copy and paste the code directly, but I have seen the clever and non-obvious methods you used to solve the problem and I use these methods in my program. I would be committing a copyright violation.
If someone takes the latest Harry Potter book and writes a very similar book, but changes a few inconsequential details here and there, they will still be sued by Rowling's publishers for copyright violations.