Open Source Software and Intellectual Property

1. Document and tag the source code you write

• In principle, the source code of open source software is protected by copyright unless otherwise stated. If a software developer wants to prove that they own the copyright, it is wise to record that they are the legal owner of the source code. Evidence of copyright usually consists of a date-stamped repository that can be versioned through platforms such as GitHub.
• Software developers can also add copyright notices or use digital watermarks in files to detect and take measures to prevent any misuse or unauthorized use.

2. Pay attention to the conditions attached to other people's software

• In software, "permissions" give more freedom to the user, while "copyleft" licenses require the user to publicly share the code that you further develop. If these conditions are not followed, the license may become invalid. In this case, using this code means copyright infringement.
• Another risk is that if a developer downloads open source code as a programmer, if another user has already added infringing code, the software developer may unknowingly infringe the rights of others.

3. Keep a record of your license plate

• For software developers who are looking for funders, or have products to sell, or provide SaaS services or online services, it is important for software developers to keep careful track of the open source software they are using. In this case, make sure you have registration documentation for the use of open source software and ensure that you comply with the open source license. This type of documentation is crucial in due diligence requests related to financing or acquisitions, or when potential customers ask their suppliers for product documentation.