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And if it's protected as a "trade secret" and not a copyright (or patent) then you probably can use it without question.
by MagicPropmaker 8y ago
And if it's protected as a "trade secret" and not a copyright (or patent) then you probably can use it without question.
- ufo 8y agoSoftware is copyrighted "by default". You don't need to apply for copyright like you would need to do with a patent.
- MagicPropmaker 8y agohttps://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/international-protection/trade-secrets-policy https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/international-... USPTO explanation of difference between a Patent, Copyright, and Trade Secret.
- detaro 8y agoThe software could contain a trade secret, and someone could discover it from reading the source (e.g. the banks magic evaluation function for credit ratings, or their trading strategy, or ...). That doesn't grant them any protected right on the software, which is protected by copyright.