One Sentence Summary:
A comprehensive legal guide for software developers, covering key concepts, contracts, licensing, and copyright issues.
Book Genre:
Non-fiction, Legal Reference Guide.
Main Topic of the Book:
The book focuses on the legal aspects of software development, providing guidance and resources for developers to protect their work and avoid legal issues.
Key Ideas:
- Understanding the legal framework of software development
- Intellectual property rights and protection for software developers
- Creating and negotiating contracts for software development projects
- Choosing the appropriate licensing model for software
- Copyright infringement and how to avoid it
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary:
- Introduction: Provides an overview of the legal issues that software developers face.
- Part 1: Software Development Basics: Covers the basics of software development, including copyright and licensing, work for hire, and avoiding liability.
- Part 2: Choosing a Licensing Model: Discusses different licensing models, such as open source, end-user licenses, and commercial licenses.
- Part 3: Protecting Your Work: Explores strategies for protecting software, including trade secrets, patents, and copyrights.
- Part 4: Contracts for Software Development: Guides readers through the process of creating and negotiating contracts for software development projects.
- Part 5: Registering Your Copyright: Explains how to register your copyright to protect your software.
- Part 6: Copyright Law Resources: Provides a list of resources for further information on copyright law and software development.
Key Takeaways:
- Software development involves complex legal issues that need to be understood and addressed.
- Protecting your intellectual property is crucial in software development.
- Knowing how to choose the right licensing model is important for the success of your software.
- Creating and negotiating contracts is a key aspect of software development and should be done carefully.
- Registering your copyright is necessary to protect your software from infringement.
- There are many resources available for further information on copyright law and software development.
Author’s Background and Qualifications:
Stephen Fishman is a practicing attorney and author who specializes in intellectual property and taxation. He has over 30 years of experience and has written numerous books and articles on legal topics. He holds a law degree from the University of Southern California and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Target Audience:
This book is primarily targeted towards software developers, but it can also be useful for anyone involved in the software development process, including attorneys, managers, and entrepreneurs.
Publisher and First Publication Date:
The ‘Software Development: A Legal Guide/Book and Disk’ was published by Nolo in 1995.