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.
Questions tagged [software]
882 questions
11
votes
1 answer
Third party client made in Unreal Engine
Suppose that I made an MMORPG which has interesting gameplay, but rather bad graphics.
One day, a fan of the game writes a client in Unreal Engine that lets them play the game with HD graphics (but they still need to buy subscription from me to…
user22233
9
votes
3 answers
Can you legally look at decompiled software code and reverse engineer it?
Something I've been curious about, I looked it up and didn't find any straightforward answers. I've heard of clean room engineering where programmers don't look at the code at all of the software they want to reverse engineer, and instead observe…
Oneechan69
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8
votes
1 answer
Is it legal to sell zero-day exploits?
Can someone who discovered a zero-day exploit in a program sell the information, and does the applicable jurisdiction depend on his location, the buyer location, the location of the developed of the product that the exploit targets, or something…
Franck Dernoncourt
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8
votes
2 answers
Can I sell computer source code that I reuse in other applications that I still sell?
I have several different versions of the same software (written in .Net/WPF) that interact with different brands of hardware. I decided to discontinue one of the platforms. The company that sells the hardware for that platform approached me about…
MatthewHagemann
- 183
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6
votes
3 answers
Does my employer own code I write at home using the Visual Studio license from work?
Simple question, maybe not an easy answer: my employer gave me an MSDN subscription linked to my home hotmail account.
Can I download Visual Studio and write code at home with this license? I would be working after business hours on my own personal…
dferraro
- 161
- 5
5
votes
1 answer
Is it illegal to produce something with an illegal copy of a software?
If someone has an illegally downloaded copy of a software that is used to produce something (for example, Photoshop for producing (/editing) pictures or FL Studio for music), is it illegal to produce something with it?
If you know someone who has an…
softwary
- 51
- 2
5
votes
2 answers
Creating Online games bots
I play this online web browser game, and I created a bot that I use to automate in-game actions. Of course using scripts/bots is prohibited in game rules and leads to banishment if detected.
So my question is: legally speaking, is it illegal to sell…
Glassic
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4
votes
1 answer
openssl and libsodium export restrictions
When going on the openssl it clearly states that openssl is subject to export restriction because it uses strong encryption.
Looking at the libsodium page I cannot find anything like this.
Why? Are the restriction different for libsodium or did they…
Nathan
- 143
- 3
3
votes
1 answer
Why does antivirus software have permission to scan and inspect third party intellectual property?
Antivirus software works by inspecting the inside of files on a computer. Many of these files are software owned by a third party and governed by their own EULAs, often with specific clauses about inspecting the inside of those files (e.g. reverse…
rocketblast
- 33
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2
votes
0 answers
Is is legal to include a bot software into an installation by explaining to the user?
I made a bot program which only visits some websites automatically (not a virus, worm, trojan and etc) and I'm planning to install it as an additional program near main program.
I know it is illegal but if I wrote some information about this bot in…
user523
- 21
- 2
2
votes
2 answers
If a company has agreed to add my software to their catalog, are they obliged to add it within a certain time?
My software product was invited to be part of a catalog of a software company (July 2020). Once it is available in this catalog, I will get paid royalties if people use my software.
To be included, I needed to make adjustments and create promotion…
Bastiaan van den Berg
- 123
- 4
2
votes
2 answers
Do I need to number sections in an Agreement?
I'm creating an agreement using an online contract management and signing service. To create the agreement I create separate sections in a library. Then I build the full agreement by adding the sections from the library to a template.
When I add the…
CoolBreeze
- 131
- 3
2
votes
1 answer
Is it legal to offer preorders (of software) without an announced release date?
As the subject states, is it legal for a company to start offering preorders of an upcoming piece of software without an announced release date?
Follow-up, if there is a release date, must they sell it exactly on that day? What happens if they're…
mariocatch
- 123
- 3
2
votes
0 answers
Could Software be a Derivative Work of RPG?
I've been developing an app to augment a Tabletop RPG (mainly for dice pool and roll and damage calculation according to the game's rules). Is the app considered to be a derivative work of the game (the rulebook in particular)?
Dorklord
- 173
- 5
2
votes
0 answers
My app uses another website. Is it legal?
I would like to create an application/website which is automating some processes on another website A. So my application would basically use website A like a normal user would (there is no API available).
Is offering an application like this…
Blub
- 121
- 1