Understanding Software Copyright Laws

Author: Richard Cunningham
Software copyright laws are among the most difficult to enforce among the masses. Many companies and corporations are well known for overlooking these laws, which were designed to protect the creation of software from not earning their worth. Perhaps one of the biggest hitches why many software businesses go out of business is they have difficulty enforcing software copyright laws and getting money that is owed to them from end users.

Software developers, particularly in the corporate world, design software that makes other companies run more efficiently. The software allows these companies to save millions of dollars each year. Software copyright laws protect the interests of the software developers who create these massive programs. These expensive programs are designed specifically for that one company. The copyright and license agreement often consists of a certain number of users with the company purchasing more licenses or copies of the software during expansions or paying some sort of royalties for the use of the software.

The purchasing companies agree to this and then often fail to honor that agreement. The agreement is what allows this company to use that software. When companies aren't living up to their end of this agreement, they are not only guilty of breaching that agreement, but also of breaking software copyright laws. The trouble always lies in proving they are not honoring the contract and the extent and duration of the breach.

Some ways companies will argue, in defense of not paying the royalties, additional fees, purchasing additional software, etc. is they had upgraded computers and reused the old software (they did actually purchase the rights to use the original software and by doing so feel that they have broken no software copyright laws). The problem lies in the fact that adding ten new computers and placing the software on those should mean you remove it from or get rid of 10 old computers. This is rarely how it works. The truth is they've stolen ten copies of software which can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Multiply this by 10, 20, or 100 companies doing the same thing and the offending companies are costing software developers millions of dollars in profits. This is when software copyright laws are not as far reaching in their scope as they really need to be.

Software copyright laws exist to protect the software companies from this type of abuse and misuse; however, the hands of the companies are almost unilaterally tied when it comes to proving that software copyright laws have been broken in court.

There are always exceptions to every rule. In this case big business software developers that abuse the software copyright laws make the exceptions rather than consumers who do not pay for the products they are consuming. The big boys are able to do this by offering licenses for their software and claiming that these laws do not apply to their situation because they are not actually selling the software, but only “renting” out permission for people or companies to use that software. The true irony is that these practices began as a response to the corporate irresponsibility mentioned above. It's amazing the very software copyright laws that were created to protect these companies can't protect their consumers from the greed of the developing companies.


About The Author

Richard Cunningham is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com.

How Can Lawyers Help Victims Of Vehicle Accidents?

Author: Manuel Salvacion
When vehicular accidents occur, the police and rescue personnel are often the first to arrive at the scene of the accident. The police conduct an investigation while some medical personnel take the injured victims to a hospital.

Far from over, vehicle accident victims need more than the assistance they could get even after the scene has been cleared of debris and everything has been done as expected.

And in all vehicle accidents – which include those that occur in cars, automobiles, trucks, buses, trains, bikes, airplanes, and even taxis and boats - the services of a lawyer are indispensable.

Vehicle accident lawyers are experienced lawyers who specialize in helping victims on how to seek redress and claim compensation for injuries and damages incurred in vehicular accidents. They assist victims throughout the whole procedures of their cases.

In all cases as in a vehicle accident, the incident must be reported to a lawyer immediately. In this way, a victim is assured that the lawyer will protect his rights. In addition, a victim will need the services of a lawyer to file a compensation claim for injuries or damages incurred during the vehicular accident.

The process of pursuing a case in vehicular accidents begins with reporting the matter to a lawyer. However, it will need more than that. The police incident report, the medical report, and the testimony of witnesses are all required documents in successful litigation.

In most vehicle accidents, the police often arrive early at the scene. During investigation, an accident victim must see to it that the details of the incident are well documented. The police accident report should also include photos and sketch of the scene. Vehicle accident lawyers will need the police accident report in filing for the victim’s compensation claim.

A victim of a vehicle accident who is taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries will also need the report of the attending physician. It is important for an injured victim to immediately seek medical attention, not only as a matter of his survival, but also for proper documentation. The medical report will serve as a supporting paper to the medical expenses claim that vehicle accident lawyers will later ask.

Time is essential in the filing of a vehicle accident case. In order to improve the chances of success in litigation, an accident victim must accomplish all the necessary procedures and proper documentation. And with the help and guidance of a vehicle accident lawyer, a victim of a vehicular accident will receive all the assistance he could get.



About The Author

Manuel Salvacion

Our vehicle accident lawyers are well versed and highly experienced in filing cases involving vehicular accidents. Log on to http://www.personalinjurylawyerinc.com/ for more information.

The Los Angeles Lawyer: To Each According To Your Need

Author: Manuel Salvacion
A problem at work, an accident, a business deal that you need to protect or close, or a legal document that you have to prepare and sign?

Wherever you are, no matter what you do in life, there are times when you wish you knew somebody who can explain matters to you, someone you can trust, and be reliable. How you wish you knew a lawyer when you needed one the most.

But if you live in Los Angeles and you need the services of a lawyer, finding one is not difficult. There are law firms in Los Angeles offering legal services in various areas of the legal profession. The areas of specialty of these firms often include personal injury, business law, employment law, and social security issues. Most Los Angeles lawyers belong to one of these law firms who specialize in one area or another of the law practice.

The Los Angeles lawyer who specializes in personal injury is likely an expert in accident claims, which involve all vehicle accidents and so-called negligent accidents, which resulted in brain injury or spinal cord injury. He also handles general negligent cases such as premise liability, wrongful death, product liability, slip and fall, medical malpractice, and construction liability, to name a few.

Therefore, when you get involved in an accident in Los Angeles, it is best to engage the services of a personal injury lawyer.

However, if you are doing business in California, especially in Los Angeles, the business lawyer is the right person to approach. The capital city being a premier business hub in California, most law firms in Los Angeles have lawyers whose expertise is in business. The Los Angeles business lawyer mostly handles cases related to transactions, litigations, and intellectual property concerns. In transactional law, a knowledgeable business lawyer often deals with corporation establishment, subchapter S corporation, and partnership concerns like partnership establishment and limited liability partnership. In addition, he also works on important business drafts like employment agreement, employment manual, and independent contractor agreement, non-compete agreement, by-laws preparation, commercial lease agreement, sales agreement, and the preparation of minutes and resolutions.

Aside from that, a business lawyer has to attend to litigation work, which includes shareholder dispute, shareholder derivative suits, breach of partnership, confidentiality agreement, non-disclosure agreement and a host of other civil litigations including debt collections.

Moreover, the business lawyer also deals with intellectual property issues like unfair competition, fraud, copyrights, trademarks, patents, and violations of trade secret.

In short, the business lawyer is a highly competent and capable person who is familiar with the operations of the law and for someone who does business in Los Angeles, the services of a good business lawyer is more than a necessity.

Most law firms in Los Angeles also employ lawyers who specialized in employment issues. These lawyers handle exclusive cases related to wrongful termination, family and medical leave, employment disability, sexual harassment, and labor law violations. The labor lawyer also helps clients negotiate employment severance packages and employees compensation claim.

On the other hand, special lawyers are assigned to look after clients with social security concerns. They assist people in their social security disability claim, spouse benefits, supplemental security income claim, overpayment claims, medical/medicare problems, social security survivor benefits, retirement benefits and state benefits.

In sum, a Los Angeles client who needs the services of a lawyer in any of his concerns need not go any further. There is a lawyer for his every need in Los Angeles.



About The Author

Manuel Salvacion

Our Los Angeles Lawyer is highly experienced and competent in filing accident claims and lawsuits. Please visit http://www.askaccidentlawyers.com/ for more information.