What does a mod APK mean for the original APK developer?
Object code and source code are not distinct under the IP regime. Source and object code may both be secured with IP techniques for computer code. Importantly, IP distinguishes between the written code and its purpose or impact.
Copyright protection may be available for an app’s written code but not for its functionality under various kinds of intellectual property protection. It is possible that even if the new code is protected, the owner of the old code must provide authorization for the rewrite or change of the code in order to continue performing the same function.
Products or methods that have a technological impact are protected by patents, which are granted to inventors.
For example, software code alone is not patentable in a mobile app until it causes anything beyond the code itself and as long as the elements that implement the program are novel or innovative in comparison to what was known at the time of the invention. To be protected, just what is stated in a patent and its equivalents can be protected; abstract notions (such as software that scans documents) cannot be protected. For a maximum of 20 years from the date of filing, you are protected.
When exploiting past work, the first step is to verify if it is protected by intellectual property (IP) or is free to be used without restrictions. The usage of works that are in the public domain is unrestricted.
Intellectual property rights are violated by enabling others to download a modified version of an APK. There must be an agreement in place between the copyright holder and those who wish to use a work covered by intellectual property (IP) rights (exceptions to the right). IP-protected works can be included in a mobile app with the right holder’s permission.
Illegal modded APKs can cause:
Lost revenue: Revenue that has been lost since users are no longer paying for the original version
Customer security is jeopardized: There is a large number of harmful mod APKs available, and customers frequently face virus attacks or data breaches as a result. This will eventually harm the reputation of the original APK.
