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1st off, it's important to know that as soon as data is stored on the hard drive, it is considered to be copyright to the author. It's proving who wrote it 1st that we file a copyright with the proper authorities & officials.
A software copyright only protects against the actually copying of software. This means illegal duplication & distribution of software that is protected by a copyright, filed with the United States copyright office. For any rules other than the United States, I am unaware.
To protect against methodology, or the idea behind a system (being a piece of software), one would need to apply for a patient. & I believe that any protection against that said piece of software would be settled (proven) in a court of law, so the outcome would be unique on a per-basis.
1st off, it's important to know that as soon as data is stored on the hard drive, it is considered to be copyright to the author. It's proving who wrote it 1st that we file a copyright with the proper authorities & officials.
A software copyright only protects against the actually copying of software. This means illegal duplication & distribution of software that is protected by a copyright, filed with the United States copyright office. For any rules other than the United States, I am unaware.
To protect against methodology, or the idea behind a system (being a piece of software), one would need to apply for a patient. & I believe that any protection against that said piece of software would be settled (proven) in a court of law, so the outcome would be unique on a per-basis.
so even if you license your code under the GNU it does not protect your code - I thought it also included claiming that code that is not yours is yours if you get my drift. so if I went online and googled code that made computer beep vb.net and copyied somone elses licenced code and then sold it on as my own I would be breaking the law but if I changed the code even minuteley it would become mine?
To an extent yes. But realistically (in America) it comes down to legal representation.
well thats good if you live in america but (and I assume most places with american like laws the uk for example) but anything you put on the web is veiwable anyware in the world (provided you have a connection) so if somone in a country, that is not of the code or authers origin, downloads the code and sells it on you and your law system has no jursistiction over them whats-o-ever.
Realistically, code is code. I mean, what are you doing that you are so worried about?
The example that you gave... of a beep, pretty simple. I mean at some point anything can be redone in code.
Your best bet is to get a lawyer, as you seem to have a specific question, but are only asking general specifics, which are going to differ based on local laws & methodology.
In short, you can't really copyright code. You copyright a product. Again, as I stated before, the copyright says "This product cannot be copied". What you are asking for (again!) is a patent. That will protect others from recreation similar functionality.
You really need to talk to a lawyer, so you can understand the correct terminology, & what protection you are buying.
Here in the states a copyright is $35 (when I got one 2 years ago). A patent is somewhere around $12,000.
(Again at least in Australia) if the author of the book/(presumably)code has been dead for 50 years, the item is public domain; that means that, if left un-updated (eg. iTunes is updated) for 50 years since the original authors death, I guess the code is anyone's to change or use as they wish.
If code is made public, I would assume that it is no longer copywrited. I have writen some snippets for DIC. They are from my head, my creation, but if I wanted to enforce some kind of copywrite, I wouldn't make it public. So if I brought it to court..."he stole my code". They would ask "how did he get the code?....." "From DIC Snipets Post". Then I'm an idiot. But, If I use any available method to protect my code, no matter how simple the method may be, If I can prove that I wrote the code, I would have a standing in court, because that is what it all comes down to.....Court, judge, did he, did he not.
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but (and I assume most places with american like laws the uk for example) but anything you put on the web is veiwable anyware in the world (provided you have a connection) so if somone in a country, that is not of the code or authers origin, downloads the code and sells it on you and your law system has no jursistiction over them whats-o-ever. 
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