Does copyright law cover open-source software?

Yes, copyright law does cover open-source software. In Minnesota, copyright law protects the expression of ideas embodied in literary, musical, artistic, and other creative works, whether published or unpublished. Software code is considered an expression, and is thus protected under copyright law. Open-source software allows users to access, modify, and share software code, and can be regarded as an exception to the traditional view of copyright protection. But here in Minnesota, open-source software can still benefit from copyright protection. Even when a user accesses and shares the software code without charge, the underlying software code is still protected by copyright, and the owner of the copyright may be able to charge license fees. Additionally, a copyright owner can place restrictions on how source code is shared and used. For example, a copyright owner may require that the open-source code is always shared in the same form, or that the code is used in a non-commercial manner. If a user violates these restrictions, the copyright owner may be able to pursue a claim for copyright infringement. Overall, open-source software is covered by copyright law in Minnesota, and the copyright owner may be able to enforce his or her rights even with code that is shared freely. A copyright owner’s rights may be limited in some cases, but copyright law still provides a strong legal foundation for protecting the owner’s rights.

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