I am in the process of developing an Excel based application which I
plan on selling to businesses. Does anyone know if I need to register
with microsoft since I am developing my application in Excel? All my
customers will need to have Excel to use my application. I would
really prefer a web address at microsoft that I could print out stating
what the requirements are.

Secondly, does anyone know if there are simple ways to protect my Excel
application from being copied by one of my customers and given to one of
their friends?

Lastly, would I just need a copyright for this application or would I
need a patent as well?

Thanks for your help and take care!


--
ledgreg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ledgreg's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=31973
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No, you don't have to pay Microsoft anything.
No, there's no easy way to protect your work.
Copyright is complicated, but rules are pretty much the same all over the
world. I doubt that an Excel app would qualify for a patent, but please try.

HTH. Best wishes Harald

"ledgreg" skrev i
melding ...

I am in the process of developing an Excel based application which I
plan on selling to businesses. Does anyone know if I need to register
with microsoft since I am developing my application in Excel? All my
customers will need to have Excel to use my application. I would
really prefer a web address at microsoft that I could print out stating
what the requirements are.

Secondly, does anyone know if there are simple ways to protect my Excel
application from being copied by one of my customers and given to one of
their friends?

Lastly, would I just need a copyright for this application or would I
need a patent as well?

Thanks for your help and take care!


--
ledgreg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ledgreg's Profile:
http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=31973
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=516981

Adding to Harald's reply, to better protect your code, you could develop it
in .NET using VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office). This runs as managed
code under the .NET framework with all the inherent security that brings

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
www.nickhodge.co.uk
HIS


"ledgreg" wrote in
message ...

I am in the process of developing an Excel based application which I
plan on selling to businesses. Does anyone know if I need to register
with microsoft since I am developing my application in Excel? All my
customers will need to have Excel to use my application. I would
really prefer a web address at microsoft that I could print out stating
what the requirements are.

Secondly, does anyone know if there are simple ways to protect my Excel
application from being copied by one of my customers and given to one of
their friends?

Lastly, would I just need a copyright for this application or would I
need a patent as well?

Thanks for your help and take care!


--
ledgreg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ledgreg's Profile:
http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=31973
View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=516981