Copryright for a website??

[bcnu]

Software code is copyrighted as a "literary work", believe it or not, except where the copyright laws specifically say "computer software". Like any other literary work, it is copyrighted from the moment it is created. Automatically. Similarly, pictures are copyrighted when you store the image into any permanent form (film, digital bits, Polaroids).

Web developers have an interesting set of problems, many of which can be worked out in contracts. For instance, an independent contractor is the legal author of any software or photos he makes. As the legal author, he or she also owns the copyright. If the CUSTOMER (client) wants to own the copyright for any reason, they would need to first negotiate the proper written and signed contract.

A non-disclosure agreement is part of any good development contract, stating that the contractor cannot use or disclose the ideas or any other part of the work to anyone without permission of the client, facing "liquidated damages" and permanent injunction, if it comes to that.

Your intellectual property law firm can certainly help you with all the right contract terms and conditions.