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I have downloaded some software which I'm using. I'd like to include it in my project but I don't know if I'm allowed to do so due to the software not having a license.

What are my rights? If the software doesn't have a license, does that mean that I am allowed to do whatever I want with the software?

William
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In the vast majority of countries, you have absolutely no rights. Copyright automatically belongs to the author by default so until they explicitly grant you rights, you don't have any.

nobody
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  • What the 'vast majority of countries'? Could you elaborate on that a bit more further please? – William Dec 01 '14 at 20:28
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    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention – Basile Starynkevitch Dec 01 '14 at 20:31
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    @WilliamD.Edwards The Berne Convention is the corner stone of international copyright, but more recently the [TRIPS Agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIPS_Agreement) is more relevant: Copyright is automatic, and computer programs are treated equal to literary works. Unless the copyright term has ended or you have an explicit license by the copyright owner, you have zero rights to the software. – amon Dec 01 '14 at 20:35