A software developer develops a software program and writes a document with step-by-step instructions on how to use the software.
The developer wants to ensure no other person or company will publish this document for public use.
Which of the following should the developer use to BEST protect the document?
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D.D.
The best option for the software developer to protect the document with step-by-step instructions on how to use the software is to use a copyright.
A copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to use and distribute the work. This includes the right to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display the work publicly. Copyright protection is automatic and does not require any formal registration. It is effective as soon as the work is created and fixed in a tangible form, such as in a document.
Patents protect inventions, such as machines, processes, or compositions of matter, and provide the owner with the exclusive right to prevent others from making, using, or selling the invention for a period of time. Trademarks protect words, symbols, or designs that are used to identify and distinguish goods and services from those of others. A watermark is an image or text that is embedded into a document to indicate its authenticity or to prevent unauthorized copying.
In this case, a copyright is the most appropriate form of protection for the developer's document because it is an original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression, and the developer wants to prevent others from publishing it for public use. By obtaining a copyright, the developer will have exclusive rights to the document and can prevent others from copying or distributing it without permission.