Thread: How to prove you wrote it

sometimes i do something like this at the top of the program:

Code:

char*copyright="Copyright (c) 2004 John Shao";

the string literal shows up in a hex editor, and you can see it in the source code. That also makes it easy to call the copyright statement in the run of the program... that way you can prove you at least had open access to the source...

it won't give you any real protection, but it helps to be able to show your copyright in a hex editor and a running version of the program, not to mention in the source code (if you still have it when you need to prove it's yours)

I also put in obscure comments that make sense, but only somebody that acts as immature as i do would put in... things like "figure this out on your own" and "delete this and watch the program die"

Originally posted by mithrandir
I remember having to do an AC-21 they were a $$$$$, I mean a real $$$$$ because you'd have to do an BX-25 first, then a YW-55 after that. And the canteen food, that was so goddamn awful after eating like a king at Westpoint.

Wait, a second...am I just making this up?!

No, of course not. It's not like they never actually gave you the navy job or anything

Originally posted by bludstayne
How will the court know who Bludstayne Software is and who represents it? Some dude may claim that he's part of the team, even though he is not, and there is no way to prove that he isn't.

that's why you have to prove to the court that you have rights to that copyritght...

I believe I read something about registration being necessary for any lawsuits. Why don't you check out the "copyright links" thread that someone posted a while ago

really? I thought you didn't need to register your copyright... you just have absolutely no protection unless you do... and somebody else could copyright something and then register their copyright and sue you for it...

Sort of like the saying "Locks only keep honest people out"