Questions tagged [software]
For questions involving programming underlying computers and machines. Consider using the [open-source-software] tag if the question is about open source software or licensing.
507
questions
-1
votes
0answers
15 views
Implications of providing licensed font over CDN
We have a central web service, which can be used to access various publication and presentation pages. Those are intended to be embedded into customer websites, with the embedding being handled by the ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Using screen recording of client's products in promotion
I work at a company that creates software that developers use in their frontend. We have a free and open source version of our software and a paid, non-open-source version. It is easy to detect if a ...
0
votes
0answers
52 views
Is it legal to create and sell a tool to modify config files for games
I've recently discovered an oversight in a popular games config file system that allows you to use an item even if you haven't yet unlocked it, this is a multiplayer game where players are expected to ...
0
votes
0answers
52 views
Distributing (for free) defunct software with valid license
I'm thinking about creating and distributing for free a virtual image with Ubuntu that has installed the latest original software from a defunct software provider with valid (paid) licenses.
From ...
2
votes
0answers
61 views
Is it okay to use my own software for a job with another company?
Over the last year I setup (registered) my own company so I could do freelance and contracting. I also produced some digital products for sale on the app stores.
During that time I built a very ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Legal to make an app that organizes other people's youtube videos?
I'd like to make a mobile application that organizes youtube videos into groups, allowing the user to browse groups and watch videos.
For example - I'd like to organize certain cooking videos (not ...
-1
votes
3answers
152 views
Will I go to jail if I made an Artificial Intelligence?
I am a programmer, I'm always using different programming languages to make something like a hobby or just my playground.
Now I have several insights of how can I make an Artificial Intelligence, ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Does this fall under the “Commercial usage” definition?
I am working on a mobile application. It uses a third-party service (let's call it XYZ) which in its ToS has stated
Use the XYZ Platform to develop and distribute non-commercial
Streaming SDAs ...
-1
votes
0answers
30 views
Is it legal to use Facebook and Instagram services without using their API
So my startup company is working on developing an app. The idea is to have Facebook users add / accept friend request and Instagram users follow each other through pressing a button when they meet on ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
What steps should be taken in order to legalise and sell medical software?
So I thought about an idea for a medical software and I made just for fun. It wasn't that good but it was much better than what I'd expected to get. Fast forward a couple months, I made the software a ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
GDPR IFrame Cookies - Opt-In necessary?
A lot of googling didn't help me with the following questions:
Given I own a website which only creates one cookie that identifies a users session - is it okay to embed said website in an iframe ...
0
votes
2answers
116 views
Who is held accountable in case of violation of JSON license's specific 'no evil' clause - the end user, the distro, or both?
The JSON license, as well as the jslint (and the 'jshint' derivative) license, is an otherwise unmodified version of the MIT License except for one peculiar clause which reads:
The Software shall ...
1
vote
0answers
15 views
Using the BSD 3-clause license with splash screen
If someone is using a BSD 3-clause licensed software in their own product, what would be considered "endorse or "promote". The license states:
Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Building an ebay type app, what kind of financial liability should I expect?
I’m looking into building a eBay-like store on top of my application where suppliers can post their products and buyers would make the purchase directly on the app. We would collect a commission and ...
-1
votes
1answer
48 views
Export compliance and iOS
I want to release my first app to Google Play and App Store. I have a question about Export Compliance issue. Since I didn't even know this is needed I am struggling. I already posted a similar ...
0
votes
2answers
44 views
Is an artifact generated by a software under the same license if not explicitly stated?
The current example is to generate an audio file with spoken text using a speech synthesizer and a voice, which both are licensed under a proprietary or open source license.
Assuming the license ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
lawsuit for using bots in online casino?
I have created a bot for roulette that makes a bet on a certain condition. The casino (PokerStars Casino) in their terms of service says that any use of bots is prohibited. I understand that I can get ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Working on code with uncertain licensing at another company's behest
so the situation I want to ask you about is as follows:
The Client Company has a project that is made of three parts:
A front-end web app
A back-office
An API (back-end)
The front/back parts were ...
1
vote
0answers
40 views
Like a menu for unbundled legal services
Can attorneys advertise their flat fees on a third-party site without doing all the things that got Avvo Legal Services in trouble? Didn't Avvo Legal services set the flat fee, handle the payment ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Is it legal to create user accounts on behalf of users?
Suppose that a customer wants an online or cloud service provider to port all their users from their old system to the provider's new system. Most of them won't know this is happening.
It seems like ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Is it okay to upload a code 'based' on the book? [closed]
I would like to upload a code based on the book.
In other words, there is no code, but explanations or pseudo code, in the book, and I would like to upload a code based on those and some simple ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Can I use the shapes in Microsoft Office in my software?
I want to use the shapes provided by Microsoft PowerPoint in my commercial software. Am I able to use the images I create using these shapes and am I able to use just the shapes themselves without ...
1
vote
0answers
31 views
Can a non US citizen work remotely for a US company and be under their payroll?
Some context: I've been in the US for almost 5 years under a F1 visa. In the last year I've worked under OPT for a company in the US. I have a SSN but my card says "valid for work only with DHS ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
Is research in a company for feasibility testing a commercial purpose
There are many products which are licensed for non-commercial purposes, either paid, free or opensource.
Assume there is a company testing and prototyping some ideas of new products. This does not ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
Rights protection on Google Play
I'm faced with a problem with Google Play. We have an application which was complained by trademark violation. This situation a little questionable by our opinion but lawyers say that our application ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Is there a way to let users of an audio editor web application upload audio files (music, most likely), without copyright infringement?
I assume, in case of a desktop app, the author of the software doesn't have to take responsibility for the software being used with pirated music, if all files are stored on the users computer.
...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Can I sell origin accounts with games on eBay?
I wanted to ask if I can sell Origin accounts on eBay... is it illegal if I sell them? I have 1 account that I don’t use and it has the sims 4 with almost all the packs and I was thinking to sell it ...
1
vote
2answers
56 views
Work for hire as a contractor without payment, can you withhold IP?
Context: Canadian law; contract work; software IP
If a contractor signs a work for hire agreement at the outset of a project and agrees that all work done for a company is the company's IP, can the ...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
Does a 16yo without a work permit have rights to the code he was paid to develop?
I am sixteen, and I have a summer job for a software company.
In my state (Maine), a work permit from school is required for someone of my age to have a job but it was never filled out. I assume ...
1
vote
0answers
19 views
Legality of the Android APK package format and external support
I was thinking of operating systems, more specifically mobile operating systems, and a thought occurred to me. Let’s say I decided to make an operating system, mobile or otherwise, could I legally ...
4
votes
2answers
75 views
What if the code found in github with MIT license was stolen by someone and uploaded there?
What would happen if a piece of code from a proprietary source was uploaded by someone without permission to github with the MIT license and thousands of people have used it. Even if the company who ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Which countries allow reverse engineering for one of their licences when it permits unlimited software copying, & doesn't forbid reverse engineering?
I was under the impression that reverse engineering can mainly be legally prohibited in two ways: via copyright law forbidding the making of copies; and via an end-user licence agreement (EULA) ...
1
vote
0answers
17 views
Remove characters from an OFL font and use it on a web site
I found the OFL font Sarabun on the web and I want to use it on my web site. The ttf file is quite large because it contains letters of the thai language.
I removed the unnecessary characters using ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
If a licensee creates a derivative work, do they own the work?
This is a follow up to this question asked on freelanceing SE. The background is, I know some clients want to hire an app developer but want to own everything created. As the developer it would be ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
How to use free sound for commercial use?
I discovered that some sound effects in Minecraft comes from web sites that offers free sfx, some of these sounds are under the 'CC BY-NC 3.0' licence which is a non-commercial one.
Yet, Minecraft ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
Can I use the EPL-licensed library (Paho) for a commercial project and NOT disclose the source code of the project? [closed]
Can I use the Eclipse Paho library (licensed under EPL) for a commercial project and NOT disclose the whole source code of that project? I'm not going to make any changes to Paho code, I just want to ...
4
votes
1answer
78 views
Is it legal to compel users to share data in order to access more features, when the features being accessed do not require the data being requested?
Apologies in advance if this is not the correct exchange for this question.
I am a developer working for a company that owns a healthcare application. They operate exclusively in the EU.
As part of ...
2
votes
2answers
108 views
How are programming books written if language names are trademarked?
For example, you might want to talk about Java, but Java and its mother company Oracle are trademark names. Or you want to mention the Spring framework which is a registered trademark. Or mentioning ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
Digital ownership in a peer-to-peer network
Let's say that I share a file* on peer-to-peer network (such as BitTorrent).
When other people download my file, do they own the digital copy on their machine? Or is the file considered as being ...
1
vote
3answers
94 views
If someone reviews my software program, when do they share its copyright?
Suppose I refactor my program based on its reviews on codereview.SE. (Or someone reviews my pull request on GitHub.) Presumably, if I include the reviewer's code, they share copyright to my new ...
3
votes
2answers
69 views
Controller processor roles for a SAAS for schools
Assume the following situation:
There is a cloud-software (SAAS) which is used by a school for basically three things:
Edit: The SAAS was designed with children facilities in mind: Nurseries, ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Is reverse engineering for research legal?
I want to look at the code of a certain app, without modifying it. Is that fine accordingly to EU laws ? Btw, sorry if I posted this in the wrong place.
30
votes
3answers
8k views
Can an open source licence be revoked if it violates employer's IP?
Suppose a developer's contract says that all intellectual property (IP) rights to her code belong to her UK employer. While employed, she develops a library and open-sources it under the Apache 2.0 ...
-2
votes
1answer
78 views
Hiring part-time IT contractors who are under an IP assignment clause in their day contract
I plan to engage a contract developer part-time in the UK through his own Ltd. He's currently contracting in the day time for a software company. My project is in a very different area. However, that ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
What constitutes comercial use of software?
I'm writing a module for the internal company website of my current employer. Does that constitute comercial use?
13
votes
1answer
3k views
Can U.S. Tax Forms Be Legally HTMLified?
If I want to have a U.S. government tax form, like a W-9, be able to be filled out on my website, can I convert it to html (so that it looks as identical as possible to the original form), have the ...
0
votes
2answers
48 views
Is it illegal to reference other brands in an app for profit?
Simply put, I'm developing a 'social' app centered around similar interests in brands (specifically restaurants). The main function of the app has users add restaurants to a 'shareable favorites list' ...
0
votes
0answers
102 views
ADA and reasonable accommodations
https://www.eeoc.gov/facts/jobapplicant.html
Q: Is it a reasonable accommodation to request to remove all the oral interviews for a candidate programmer who has, for instance, social phobia? Or the ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Prove for someone that a specific app is yours?
So I made an app and I am planning on releasing it, the app contains in app purchases (so users have to pay from inside the app). Now the thing is that when someone pays for a product in my app I will ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
Copyright law vs software transformation
As wikipedia says,
A major limitation on copyright on ideas is that copyright protects only the original expression of ideas
Suppose there are two companies: A and B, that produce software. Now, ...
