Legal Help

alyssennguyen

First off I have like a million questions, but I guess I will start with, If i needed someones help like a software developer to help me create things for the mirror, do we need a NDA in order to protect my idea?

Can something like this be copywritten given that this is open source?

I have a few ideas for features but I do not know how to code or do any kind of software, but if we use the open source and create our new codes, can we still copyright the new codes?

Or in order for us to copyright we would need to start from scratch?

That is very expensive to start from scratch so I figured it would be easier to start with the software that is already here and enhance it or make changes to it.

but unsure how that works legally since it is open source.

Thank you.

sdetweil

@alyssennguyen here is the license

https://docs.magicmirror.builders/about/license.html

note the last sentence of paragraph 1.

sdetweil

@alyssennguyen nda, totally up to you. what is the lost value( to you) if the idea gets out?

can’t copyright mm itself. MAYBE a solution that includes mm…

create your own code? copyright, MAYBE

don’t know if u need to start from scratch til u answer the value question.(not to me, to yourself,)

I am NOT a lawyer and do not play one on TV.

copyright and patent are different things.

sdetweil

@alyssennguyen I have helped others w their ideas, some implementation content

I have not seen any of those come to market

alyssennguyen

@sdetweil got it, I have spoken with an attorney about what is needed for my software. I would need an NDA and potentially a service agreement, i just was not sure if i could copyright the changes we made to the already made software.

I just did not want to pay someone to start from scratch as they all say it would most likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

martenfur

@alyssennguyen
Do you really think your idea is so genius you need an entire NDA and written copyright? God damn I wish I had self-esteem this high.

MIT license is what you need. That’s it.

alyssennguyen

@martenfur I would only want the NDA when discussing with the software developer. I do not want someone else to take my idea, even if it goes nowhere, I would rather be protected and make nothing out of it, then not protected and next thing you know they sell the software to someone for millions.
I always ensure I am legally protected.

martenfur

@alyssennguyen
Let me tell you something. Ideas by themselves are worth next to nothing. Unless you are a business wanting to profit and is in highly competitive market, there is no reason to bother.

alyssennguyen

@martenfur if i have someone create the software, it will likely be something that companies want, but I do not have the software or the knowledge to make it.

martenfur

@alyssennguyen You literally want to have your cake and bang it too. If it’s opensource under a permissive license, a potential company will be able to just take your code and use it. And if it’s proprietary or under a stricter license, it’s so, so, SO easy for a company with a proper budget to reverse-engineer it and make its own version. To restrict it, you’ll have to file a patent, but then guess what, you’re screwing everyone who wants to do the same thing, and it’s up to you to defend that patent.

Stop being paranoid.