Proprietary Software
What is Proprietary Software?
Proprietary software code is software that is usually developed and owned by the individual or organisation that developed it and is usually protected by usage restrictions set by that owner. Software code can be very valuable, and since its often hard to protect through a patent, it can often lack the protection that registered IP receives.
Unlike open-source software, proprietary source code (the human-readable instructions that define how the software operates) is not publicly shared and can often be protected as a trade secret. It typically contains algorithms, data analysis properties or data consolidation, which of course can often be just as valuable as the software output itself.
Some examples of well-known proprietary software coded products include:
- Windows
- Photoshop
- Apple’s iOS mobile operating system
How Does Proprietary Software Code Apply to Me?
The source code for software is automatically protected by copyright, as long as it is original and not copied from somewhere else. However, copyright only protects the way the code is written – it does not protect the ideas or methods behind the software.
As a result, it’s often worthwhile for a software creator or the company that owns it to take extra steps to reduce risk. This might include keeping the source code and software specifications confidential and putting controls in place to limit the chances of someone copying or using them without permission.