Software that controls other software

[Isidisi]

In the market there's a software A with a cheap license for using it with mouse and keyboard. With an expensive license software enables advanced functions one of them to be controlled via midi devices. Expensive license provides a professional midi device.
I have done a software B that listens midi devices and injects in the software A in order to be able to move their controls according to actions on midi device. I'm not modifying software A (not cracking it) but only injecting in its process via windows api and changing the values of their controls... Intended to be used with small midi controller.
Is this illegal or can I sell this product safely?

Thanks in advance...

 

[quincy]

In the market there's a software A with a cheap license for using it with mouse and keyboard. With an expensive license software enables to be controlled via midi devices.
I have done a software B that listens midi devices and injects in the software A in order to be able to move their controls. I'm not modifying software AA (not cracking it) but only injecting in its process via windows api and changing the values of their controls... Maybe something similar to Autohotkeys software ...
Is this illegal or can I sell this product safely?

Thanks in advance...

What is the name of your state, Isidisi, or, if not in the US, what is the name of your country?

 

[Zigner]

It sounds to me like your actions violate the licensing agreement. (A rose by any other name...)

 

[quincy]

It sounds to me like your actions violate the licensing agreement. (A rose by any other name...)

Something sure doesn't sound legal about the whole thing, at any rate.

 

[single317dad]

This could be legal, but the concerns about the licensing agreement would certainly have to be addressed. It doesn't appear that Isidisi is providing software A with his product, or modifying software A in any way, only sending information to software A via his software B. That can be legal as is the case with Dragon Naturally Speaking and similar products; the software takes voice commands spoken into a microphone and feeds them to other applications' input e.g. Microsoft Word. If Isidisi decompiled or reverse engineered software A to accomplish this, what he did is probably illegal.

Of course, the software may work in an entirely different manner. We also don't have an answer to quincy's question, and thus I could be blowing hot air

 

[Isidisi]

My country is Spain... Sofware A is developed by a company in London, United Kingdom

Of course the original software is not modified at all... and we would not provide software A, users must pay the license of software A

I didnt decompiled software A, but searched controls in the App by class and hierarchy in the App visual tree.

My software would allow to control software A via MIDI, what is not possible with the cheap license of software A, buy is a function available with expensive license of software A (that includes lots of functions that my software would not bypass, and a physical expensive table controller that would control software A completely)... our software is designed to use with small very inexpensive controllers as it only controls some parts of software A...

 

[single317dad]

My country is Spain... Sofware A is developed by a company in London, United Kingdom

My advice applies only to US law. I have no knowledge of copyright or other related laws in the UK or Spain. If you choose to distribute your product in the US, then you'll need to know the applicable US laws; otherwise, you need legal advice for Spain and the UK (and probably Eurozone/EU).

 

[Isidisi]

I would sell all over the world

 

[quincy]

My country is Spain... Sofware A is developed by a company in London, United Kingdom ...

Because you live in Spain, it will be the laws of Spain that will be of concern you, even if you market your product worldwide. If you are infringing on anyone's rights, the rights-holder will pursue legal action against you in Spain.

I lived in Spain briefly years ago and used to be familiar with their IP laws but there have been significant changes to the laws since that time. So here is a link to WIPO, and Spain's IP Laws and Treaties, for you to review: http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/profile.jsp?code=ES

I recommend you consult personally with an international law IP attorney in your area to determine if your product is likely to be found infringing, before investing any more time and energy and money into its development.

Good luck.