Software Licencing And Copyright Questions Medium
A software license and a software patent are two distinct legal concepts that provide different forms of protection for software-related intellectual property.
A software license is a legal agreement between the software copyright holder (licensor) and the user (licensee) that grants the user certain rights to use the software. It outlines the terms and conditions under which the software can be used, such as the number of installations, permitted usage, restrictions, and any fees or royalties involved. Essentially, a software license grants permission to use the software while still retaining the copyright ownership with the licensor.
On the other hand, a software patent is a form of intellectual property protection granted by a government authority to an inventor or assignee. It provides exclusive rights to the patent holder for a limited period, typically 20 years, to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing the patented software invention without permission. A software patent protects the underlying idea, functionality, or innovative aspects of the software, rather than the specific code itself.
In summary, a software license governs the usage and distribution of software, while a software patent protects the invention or innovation embodied in the software. A license grants permission to use the software under certain conditions, while a patent grants exclusive rights to the patent holder to prevent others from using the patented software invention without permission.