How to I copyleft my work???

[TrickyNekro]

Hello guys,

As a part of the free software movement... I think that I want to copyleft some of my work...

I want my work to be freely distributed and such....
But I don't want my work to be use in any commercial project...

How do I do this???

Thanks, in advance
Lefteris,
Greece

[Hawaii00000]

In the United States simply publishing (ie in a book or on the internet) your work makes it your intellectual property. It doesn't have to be registered. I'm not sure why people register stuff as trademarks and stuff like that, but I'm sure there's a reason. Maybe check wikipedia.

[airman00]

Look around at the Creative Commons licenses

[Webbot]

Its very hard to copyright software!  

For example: if I (Admin actually!) wrote some code for a Photovore could it be copyrighted? If so  - does it mean that no-one else could write a Photovore program? So are you copyrighting the algorithm or the exact code. It would be hard to copyright the algorithm, unless you are sure that no-one else has ever written any kind of Photovore. However: if you had created, say, a complex and very innovative algorithm for internet encryption then you could be ok. So unless your code does something truly innovative and original then its very hard to coyright. I can't copyright my PWM libraries because it makes the mcu do what it was designed to do. Lots of other people do the same thing although the program may not be identical line-for-line.

If your program isn't ground-breakingly original then you can't copyright the algorithm but you may think about copyrighting the code. Lets say your program has 100 lines of code. If I write a program that does the same thing and 95 lines of code are the same and 5% are different then 'Have I broken your copyright'? Hard to prove.

As an aside. In the early days of computer games then the copyright laws were even more futile than they are now. However music copyright laws were very strict. So we game designers would always write some very basic music which we could copyright. If someone else stole the game we could sue them for breaking music copyright.

So my advice would be: use a GNU license to release the code, unless you have a ground breaking algorithm - in which case sell it to a large company with some well paid copyright lawyers.  

[TrickyNekro]

I'm just making a tutorial over here that I might exploit.....
And I want to mark it as open source open hardware thing...

Not that I really really care, but it's a little harsh to see your work... exploited, without even say hello..
It's a whole project thing, and it's an idea....

I'm trying to make LiPo batteries, more user friendly....
Basically, I'm only making a kill switch, some current sensors and some other goodies
all packed in, microcontroller based, with some feedback that may become wireless...
And that stuff...
Basically something that I haven't seen around a lot...
I don't want to play it cool or something...
It's just that I might hit mass production one day.... And I don't really want to give food to the hungry....
And things come to be more serious these days... I'm studying electronics at university...
And I don't even have the money to buy a scope.... And I'm totally blind....
I don't want to harass myself and lose my coffee breaks, trying to collect money for a scope...
And I don't want to mess my parents with it.... cause, ok I'm 18 time to get some responsibilities on me....
Only doing part time is hard, when studying....

I was simply thinking about GNU, but I can't really find something right now... or don't know where to start...

I don't know guys, what you really suggest...
I'm open to your opinion and point of view...
There are guys here with a lot of experience on that things, like webbot above, having double my years or more...
Knowing stuff that I really ignore.... and so on....

So that's for the support so far,
and I am waiting for your replies...

Best Regards,
Lefteris, Greece

[Admin]

GNU is more of a code of ethics among programmers - its not legally binding.

You can open source your stuff, and a company can legally steal all of your code for use in their product for profit. They can't however legally copyright it because its 'public knowledge', but if they did anyway, its not like you can afford the lawyers to stop them.

GNU allows companies to steal and profit from your code, on the condition they open source their code for free. (someone correct me if I'm wrong!)

But again, GNU is not legally binding, so a company can do whatever they want with your code.

[izua]

A company can implement your code and do pcbs from your designs, but it has to publish them.
This means that for the end user, it's up to him to choose if he wants to use the designs/code by himself to implement a piece of work (equipment) or buy it already manufactured.

Now, the ugly thing a company can do is hire a few programmers to add good features to your code and release everything under their own license. To prove them wrong you must get their product, disassemble their code and show proof that they used your original code - pretty useless having only a binary (or hex) file. Plus, they can always invoke the 'best solution' argument.

[TrickyNekro]

EEeggghhh.... shove it....
Doesn't matter....


Thanks for the help guys!!!

[dunk]

GNU is more of a code of ethics among programmers - its not legally binding.

You can open source your stuff, and a company can legally steal all of your code for use in their product for profit. They can't however legally copyright it because its 'public knowledge', but if they did anyway, its not like you can afford the lawyers to stop them.

GNU allows companies to steal and profit from your code, on the condition they open source their code for free. (someone correct me if I'm wrong!)

But again, GNU is not legally binding, so a company can do whatever they want with your code.

nope. not true.
the GNU General Public Licence is legally binding it's just it is rarely anyone has the funds to go after the big companies (actually more like the big company) who abuse the Licence.
generally companies using GNU General Public Licenced code abide by the terms of the licence because there really is no reason not to. (unless you are a paranoid multinational...)

anyway, for more info look on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License


dunk.

[wictro]

this thread left me in mixed feelings.

i feel that the "common folk" has no resources to fight against any company, thus leaving em penniless.

it's as fair as the whole friggen economy is.. :p

-wic

[Admin]

wictro, agreed.

Unfortunately justice is defined by who can afford lawyers . . . just ask the RIAA

That being said, complaining won't help. There are many other ways to protect your ideas than just using patents/copyrights.

And there are occasions that although people will steal your stuff, you'll still be better off sharing then hoarding it. For example my Axon code which is 100% open source. Think if I didn't open source it, how many Axons would I sell?

[TrickyNekro]

I have a free lawyer..... My cousin.... that's not the problem....
But.... what I really want is glory after all.... Ok.... I don't know...
I'll try to copyleft the work... with GNU.... and see.....
I don't really mind being stolen... But.... not mentioning your name is.... irritating!!!!