| ▲ | dlcarrier 3 hours ago | |
Copyright doesn't cover instructions like recipes, protocols, or APIs; those require patents. Not looking at the source code has been used to make nuisance copyright lawsuits less likely (e.g. Phoenix and AMI implementations of IBM's BIOS) but it's still easy to prevail when a new work is created by rewriting some else's source code. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNIX_System_Laboratories,_Inc.....) Neither copyright nor patent cover a user interface (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Computer,_Inc._v._Micros....), so that can legally be copied outright. | ||
| ▲ | dijksterhuis 2 hours ago | parent [-] | |
> Neither copyright nor patent cover a user interface *us only > You automatically get copyright protection when you create: ... original non-literary written work, such as software, web content and databases > Registered designs provide protection for the visual appearance of a product. In the context of GUIs, this means that the unique visual elements of your digital interfaces (i.e. the lines, contours and shapes) can be safeguarded against unauthorised use by competitors. https://cms.law/en/media/local/cms-cmno/files/protection-for... | ||