Memo's

To: Dr. Jennifer Randall  

From: Frank Levins, Software Manager 

CC: SDX Alliance Company 

Date: June 19, 2020 

Re: Copyright Concerns 

 

This is a reminder to all about Copyright Concerns and Intellectual Property Rights to SDX Alliance. Software Copyright Laws protects the company if an individual copies actual source codes or graphics. For this protection, the company must file for and receive a copyright registration. It is known that an employee reused a software code to enhance SDX Alliance’s hard disk controller which can possibly break the copyright laws. Below are ways SDX Alliance can protect their product without breaking any laws.  

The Intellectual Property Rights are common issues of computer ethics and protects the rights in software. The programmer creates the program in the course of employment, the employer owns the rights, unless there is a contrary agreement between the programmer and the employer. If the employer wishes to reuse another company’s software, they should contact the company first and receive permission. If the company denies the reuse of their software, the new company must create their own to not risk breaking the copyright law. The primary stakeholder is the boss of SDX Alliance because he/she signs off on the products and information that goes along with the product that is for the consumers. The primary stakeholder will be the one to blame if something goes wrong because he/she is the face of the company.  

The final way a software developer, SDX Alliance, can protect the company is by keeping the software as a trade secret. Trade secrets provide another way to protect material that could otherwise be copyrighted or patented. SDX Alliance should start working on a new original code for the hard disk controller and delay their product release for several months. It is better to be safe than sorry.  

 

Best Regards, 

 

Frank Levins, MSCS