Proper way to release source of my program?
-
I'm thinking about releasing the source code to a WMP9 plugin I've been working on, but since I've never publicly released the source of any of my programs, I'm not sure the proper way to do it. Do I need to use an existing license, like the GPL? Do I need to copyright my code? If so, how? Does it cost? Thanks!
-
I'm thinking about releasing the source code to a WMP9 plugin I've been working on, but since I've never publicly released the source of any of my programs, I'm not sure the proper way to do it. Do I need to use an existing license, like the GPL? Do I need to copyright my code? If so, how? Does it cost? Thanks!
If you don't want to hire a lawyer to write your license it's better to use an existing one. Pick one of the OSI approved licenses if you want to release your code as open source. You own the copyright to any code you have written automatically, even without any copyright notices or registrations.
-
If you don't want to hire a lawyer to write your license it's better to use an existing one. Pick one of the OSI approved licenses if you want to release your code as open source. You own the copyright to any code you have written automatically, even without any copyright notices or registrations.
Since my code is copyrighted automatically, does that mean I can put a copyright notice in my code if I want? Do I need a license, since my code is already copyrighted? If I still do, which one do you recommend? I'm certainly not going to read through all of them :). I'm just wanting to releas the code for private, instructional use, not for creating directly derived programs.
-
Since my code is copyrighted automatically, does that mean I can put a copyright notice in my code if I want? Do I need a license, since my code is already copyrighted? If I still do, which one do you recommend? I'm certainly not going to read through all of them :). I'm just wanting to releas the code for private, instructional use, not for creating directly derived programs.
Of course you can put your copyright notice to any code you have written, but it isn't necessary to do so. If you don't specify licensing conditions, nobody is allowed to do anything with your code! You must use a license that tells what you allow people to do with your code. If you are going to release your code on CodeProject you can't use a "look, don't touch" license. You must use a license that allows creating derived works (see the submission guidelines).
-
Of course you can put your copyright notice to any code you have written, but it isn't necessary to do so. If you don't specify licensing conditions, nobody is allowed to do anything with your code! You must use a license that tells what you allow people to do with your code. If you are going to release your code on CodeProject you can't use a "look, don't touch" license. You must use a license that allows creating derived works (see the submission guidelines).