The Software Business in Canada: Financing, Protecting and Marketing Software

Canada is witnessing unprecedented growth in the number of small, independent software developers and, at the same time, the success of many established companies resulting in constant opportunity for expansion and merger. The Software Business in Canada provides developers, owners and investors alike with up-to-date critical business information necessary to succeed in this very competitive business. With the second edition, principal author George Takach has drawn on some of Canada's top experts for contributions, giving The Software Business in Canada a current and focussed edge. In addition to expanded coverage of the key legal, tax and financing inssues facing software companies today, the second edition also covers the complicated issues associated with multimedia development and the Internet. The book is divided into three parts. Part I, Financing the Software Business, begins with significant legal issues relevant to the operation of a software company, continues with a discussion of important tax and financing issues, and concludes with a discussion of "strategic partnering" Part II, Protecting Software, discusses how software can be protected under intellectual property law. It reviews those provisions in Canada's criminal law that may be used by software companies and software users to safeguard their critical computer software and other information-based resources.The types of policies and contractual measures that software companies should have in place with employees and independent contractors are also discussed. Part III, Marketing Software, guides software companies through marketing, promoting, and selling their products within the confines of Canada's Competition Act. Key aspects of dealing with the federal government on technology procurement tenders and export control matters are outlined, followed by a discussion of common agreemetns between software companies and customers and distributions. The Software Business in Canada is designed to help software suppliers in Canada achieve the greatest possible success, both domestically and abroad. Entrepreneurs contemplating entering the software business, managers of start-up or established software companies, and investors measuring opportunities will all find this a valuable reference when tackling the new or recurring problems of this exciting fast-paces business.