APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) have become ubiquitous in modern software applications and services. But who actually owns an API when it is created? And what rights does the owner have over how their API is used by others? These questions can have real legal and business implications.
When a company or developer creates a new API, they automatically own the copyright to that API code. Just like with any other creative work like a book, artwork, or software. The API creator owns the expression of that idea in code form.
However, ideas and functionality themselves cannot be copyrighted. So the API owner owns the specific implementation, but not the general concept behind it. Another developer could create their own API with the same basic purpose without infringing on rights.
Licensing is Key
The API creator gets to determine usage rights through licensing. Common API licenses include:
So while the API owner holds copyright, licensing grants certain usage rights to app developers and partners.
What Rights Does the API Owner Have?
As the copyright holder, the API creator has these core rights:
However, the API owner must respect usage terms they have granted partners through licensing.
Real-World Implications
In the real world, API commercial usage and ownership can get more complex with considerations like:
Make sure usage terms are clearly spelled out contractually for all API partnerships.
So in summary - the API developer owns the copyright, licensing grants usage rights, and real-world implications abound. Understanding the basics of API ownership is key for both API creators and app developers building on top of them.