How do you really know if the software is really copyrighted

not just writing

[blue_eagle]

Hi,

We see every where web sites and software that says it is legally protected, copyrigted, not to be resell, etc. etc. But what I wonder is how many of these digital products are really protected and how do we know this. Lets say, I purchased a product and would like to sell this to my friend and on the software it says it is protected, copyrighted, etc. etc. I know that microsoft, norton etc. are big companies and their products are certainly protected to resell but hoe about other small software how do i know they are really protected. Maybe they are not protected by law and there is no barrier to sell them. How do I know this? Is there any way to check and see this?

I would definetly appreciate if someone can let me know how this works?

Sincerely,

S.Palali

[larryhatch]

Under USA law at least, ANY original work, and software in particular, is
AUTOMATICALLY copyrighted when it is created.
NO you can't sell copies of it legally, not without permission from the owner. -Larry

[blue_eagle]

What if three people come up and say that each of them created the software and they have right to sell it. Who knows who really created the software? What i ask is is there a thing like registration so that the person who created the software is recognized as the owner of the software?

Thanks

[larryhatch]

In the USA there is Copyright Registration, for those who chose to go throught the formalities.
Many do so, many don't. One thing is for sure.

*Somebody* developed the software, and will no doubt be able to prove it in court. It won't be you. -Larry

[Moosetick]

We see every where web sites and software that says it is legally protected, copyrigted, not to be resell, etc. etc.

Also note that in the US, copyrights last for 95 years. Since no web site or software has been around for that length of time they are all potentially protected by copyright law.

Some people who make original material choose to enter that material into the public domain whereby that material is no longer protected by copyright law and wide open for anyone to do with it whatever they choose. A lot of shareware/freeware packages and wiki sites fall into this category.