我在一个学区工作。每年我们都必须从学生管理系统中导出一份学生名单，并将其发送给处理我们在线考试的公司。
所以为了做这个输出，我们必须雇佣一个了解我们学生管理系统内部运作的人。他写了一个sql (Adaptive Sybase sql Anywhere)查询，将学生导出到我们需要的csv文件。这是在我开始为学区工作之前，所以有一段时间我以为这是一个真正的应用程序，直到轮到我自己做导出的时候。
每年他都会向我们收取500美元来更新这个查询以导出当年的学生。所以当我发现它只是一个查询(.bat文件和.sql文件)时，我的想法是“我可以自己更新”。我所要做的就是改变查询中的年份(例如。2009 - 2010)。
查询(。SQL文件)本身在顶部有这样的注释:
// This code was writtend by [the guy]
// and is the property of [his company]...Copyright 2005,2006,2008,2009
// This code MAY NOT BE USED without the expressed written consent of
// [his company].
(是的，上面确实写着“writtend”。)
所以现在我老板担心我们侵犯了版权。那家伙会发现是我自己更新了查询因为我们今年还没有要求他更新并采取法律行动。
回到刚才的问题:
他真的能获得这个问题的版权吗?
如果是的话，我们自己修改是不是侵犯了版权?
在我看来，单个查询不是程序代码。它更像是一个命令行命令。但我不知道这在法律上是怎么考虑的。
从copyright.gov:
Copyrightable works include the following categories:
literary works
musical works, including any accompanying words
dramatic works, including any accompanying music
pantomimes and choreographic works
pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
motion pictures and other audiovisual works
sound recordings
architectural works
These categories should be viewed broadly. For example, computer programs and most "compilations" may be registered as "literary works"; maps and architectural plans may be registered as "pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works."
更具体地说，你的问题:
Several categories of material are generally not eligible for federal copyright protection. These include among others:
Works that have not been fixed in a tangible form of expression (for example, choreographic works that have not been notated or recorded, or improvisational speeches or performances that have not been written or recorded)
Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans; familiar symbols or designs; mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or coloring; mere listings of ingredients or contents
Ideas, procedures, methods, systems, processes, concepts, principles, discoveries, or devices, as distinguished from a description, explanation, or illustration
Works consisting entirely of information that is common property and containing no original authorship (for example: standard calendars, height and weight charts, tape measures and rulers, and lists or tables taken from public documents or other common sources)
IANAL，但是我在列表中没有看到任何使SQL查询不符合版权保护资格的内容，而用图灵完备语言编写的程序则被认为是可受版权保护的。我倾向于说，SQL是有版权的。
考虑到这一点，您肯定希望采纳其他答案之一的建议，要么用没有如此繁重许可的代码替换代码，要么让您的承包者对查询进行参数化。如果他拒绝，毫不犹豫地解雇他。
为什么不直接打电话问他发生了什么事?这可能是他代码中的样板注释，他可能根本不在乎。如果他真的在乎，那可能更多的是发布他的代码，而不是使用它。而且，如果他这么担心500美元，那他根本就没钱请律师。最后，他必须证明你使用了他的代码——他要怎么做呢?
@PurplePilot PurplePilot makes a good point. If I haven't heard from a client in a year, chances are it'll take me 30 minutes just to pull up my old notes, passwords, etc and refresh my memory as far as what is going on. Then, assuming the single-click button still worked, I would probably at least want to do some spot checking. Then you have to send it off to the person (who knows if it is even the same person this year - you might have to explain to them what to do with the file). Then you have to generate an invoice if you plan on getting paid.
基本上，如果你以咨询为生，你不会一天8小时拿工资。但如果有人一年给你打一次电话，光是行政方面的事就得花上一两个小时。
