Can I copyright software I have written?

Yes, you can copyright software you have written in Maine. Copyright law in Maine provides that any software or program you have written is automatically protected by copyright and intellectual property laws. This means that anyone else who uses your software must first obtain written permission from you before doing so. Copyright protection for software gives the author exclusive rights to copy, modify or distribute the program. This means that if someone else wants to copy, modify or distribute your software without your permission, they are in violation of copyright law and may be sued for damages. In order to register a copyright for software in Maine, you must file the software with the U.S. Copyright Office. This will give you a copyright certificate which will serve as proof that you are the original author of the software. Once registered, the copyright will last for the life of the author plus seventy years. It is important to remember that copyright law does not protect the ideas or concepts behind the software, only the actual program or software. This means that someone else can still create a similar program without violating your copyright. Overall, copyright law in Maine provides protection for software you have written. By registering your software with the U.S. Copyright Office, you can ensure that you have exclusive legal protection for your work.

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