Posts Tagged Laws

Understanding International Copyright Laws For Software Programmers

Written on August 27, 2010 by admin

Filed Under: Labor Law

Is there one governing law for international software copyright? According to agreements by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIP), any software written has an automatic copyright. This is a conclusive consensus as far as an international copyright goes.
An international software copyright should not, however, be confused with a patent. Copyrights provide creators with the ability to prevent others from directly copying the software code. A patent can actually limit the use of the software. Because of this, patents are a hotly debated topic when it comes to software.
The biggest thing to know about international software copyright is that your code is essentially protected the moment you create it. This is, unless you have some kind of contract through your employer that all code you create belongs to them.
The problem many companies face to enforce software copyright is that computers are not permanent fixtures in a company. Computers are disposable hardware. Because technology keeps evolving, software needs to be updated when new computers are purchased. Rather than purchasing new copies of software when the computers are replaced, companies are notorious for reusing old copies of the software. They are also famous for replacing 10 computers with the software installed with 40 new computers and installing the 10 copies of the software on all 40 computers. This is breaking software copyright.
There are no major differences between traditional policies for American copyright and international software copyright which make legal issues, troubles, and woes that much easier to deal with. By having a unified international front there are ramifications and legal actions that can be taken around the world without going through a great deal of international red tape. If you think dealing with the American government is bad, you should see how much fun it is to deal with the American government and another government for a legal action.
The agreement between nations for international software copyright is probably one of the soundest possible decisions that can be made as military secrets of all governments have some degree of software to keep them operating. While it isn’t quite as simplistic as stealing a computer program to unlock the defense secrets of a nation, having access to certain source codes could be problematic in the absolute best-case scenario. Keeping secrets isn’t the only thing that makes this agreement so valuable, it is however, one of the most vital.
Perhaps one of the greatest things to protect and honor software copyright is the peace of mind that is available to software developers in America and other technologically advanced countries. Their source code won’t be allowed to be stolen and used against them at a later date by someone in a developing nation with cheap labor and other overhead costs that American corporations simply cannot compete with. This could be devastating to the economies of technological societies if it were allowed to happen. The agreement for an international software copyright prevents that from being allowed to occur.

Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, “Copyright Basics” at ResearchCopyright.com.

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Employment Laws – An Overview of the Latest Trends and Rules

Written on August 25, 2010 by admin

Filed Under: Labor Law

American workforce has increased greatly. After Second World War, labor force is diversified with the entry of women, African Americans, minorities, immigrants. In order to meet the needs of the employees, government has revised and improved the employment policy in the 21 st century. New employment policies increased restrictions on the employers. As many of us are related to the American work force, there is a need to know about the policy.Developments in the Employment Law United State congress has provided many rights for the employees to advance equally. The laws provided by congress from 1967 are: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 : Employer should not discriminate in hiring, promoting, dismissal, on the basis of: race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, provided the employer has a workforce of at least fifteen persons. Equal Pay Act of 1963 : Male and female employees should be paid equally when they perform the same or substantially similar kinds of work. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 : Use age as a determining factor in hiring, promoting, or discharging employee age forty and over, where the employer employs more than twenty employees. Employer should not discriminate older employees. This act is to protect the aged people of 40 years and above. Age at which they can receive retirement benefits from social security is also increasing. Americans with Disabilities Act : Discriminate against persons with disabilities who are otherwise qualified, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential functions of a job. According to this act employer should provide worksite accommodation for the disabled. This law applies to the mentally ill, AIDS patients and physically disabled. Employer and disabled person should engage in interactive process to encourage them to do their work perfectly. Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act : Discriminate against Vietnam veterans if the employer is a contractor or sub-contractor of the federal government and its contracts equal or exceed $10,000. Occupational Safety and Health Act : Discharge an employee for reporting health or safety violations on the employer’s premises. This act is also applicable when the employee is to work in an unsafe or hazardous area without providing adequate safeguards. Family and Medical Leave Act : Deny most employees the right to take leave to provide care for a child, spouse, or other close relative in a medical emergency or related to the birth or adoption of a child. Affirmative Action or Reverse Discrimination : This act is to represent minorities while giving contracts. Certain percentage of contract is kept aside for minorities and women owned business. Other Legal Rights of Employees Employer will be held liable if any person is harassed sexually in the office premises and he doesn’t take any action. Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) provides for mandatory notice of employer plant closing and mass layoff. Defamation: Employer cannot make negative comments about the present or past employee. Employment at will: Employee or employer can terminate their relationship at any time.

Studying the developments in employment law , Peter Salazar offers an overview of the different rights and duties of the average employee. This discussion deals with the career jobs and employment of smaller entities where the number of employees is less than 50.

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