Copyright and Software
Every line of code you write is, the instant you write it, protected by copyright — automatically, with no registration required. That surprises many engineers, and its implications run deep: copyright is the legal foundation of who owns software, why you can't just copy others' code, and why software licenses (which grant permission around copyright) exist at all. Understanding copyright as it applies to code is the single most relevant piece of IP knowledge for a working engineer. (Educational, not legal advice.)
Every line of code you write is, the instant you write it, protected by copyright — automatically, no registration required. Its implications run deep: copyright is the legal foundation of who owns software, why you can't just copy others' code, and why licenses exist. It's the most relevant IP knowledge for a working engineer. (Educational, not legal advice.)