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News and Events > Resources for Software Developers Now Available on the TTO Website

Resources for Software Developers Now Available on the TTO Website

The TTO has developed a process for working with software research groups that is now outlined in a new section on the TTO website entitled "The Software Process." The website describes the support that the TTO can provide to software groups and includes sample software licenses that can be used to release source code. The TTO has also released three new bulletins on software: Licensing Early Versions of Software, How to Release Open Source Software, and Software Licensing.

Software must be handled differently than other intellectual property. For example, the value of software is often not evident until it has attracted a substantial community of users or developers. Instead of patenting software inventions and controlling use, it is often better to encourage others to work with it. Software developers face special issues when releasing code. For example, what happens when someone modifies the code so that it no longer works as well, and releases it again without identifying themselves and their changes? CU developers could end up being contacted repeatedly by people who cannot get the software to work.

The software process was developed with the recognition that software groups themselves are in the best position to decide how their code should be distributed. The TTO now offers services for helping software groups establish their goals, set up appropriate permission statements and license agreements for external collaborators, manage external relationships like contributors and companies who evaluate the software, answer questions about the intellectual property and providing access to legal experts when necessary.

The TTO encourages software groups to get in touch as early as possible in the life of a project. It is important to establish goals, track contributors and be aware of using open source components. Please visit the Software Process website and contact Kate Tallman for a consultation on your new software project.