Software Reuse and its Inherent Legal Impediments.

Software reuse has become a critical issue as public and private entities struggle to control cost in the expensive field of applications development and authors of software products act to protect their intellectual property rights. Software customers who are engaged in end-use development hope to be able to negotiate reuse contracts that allow them to economically develop complete applications. This thesis investigates the history and discusses the legal issues surrounding the reuse of software as intellectual property. It concludes by discussing several measures for dealing with the legal barriers to software reuse.