Open Source Licensing: Software Freedom and Intellectual Property Law

Exclusive Rights of Copyright and Patent Owners

Intellectual property, like other forms of personal property, is characterized by the things that nobody else can do without the owner's permission. If you own an automobile, for example, only you can drive it—unless you give others permission to do so. It is your prerogative to do what you want with your automobile, including keeping it in your garage for private showings if you are so inclined.

So too, if you own a copyright, you have an exclusive right to do certain things with your copyrighted intellectual property that others cannot do without your permission:

• You have an exclusive right to make copies.

• You have an exclusive right to prepare derivative works.

• You have an exclusive right to distribute ...