" Bitcoin is developed under an open-source model and released under the MIT License (Wright, 2008; MIT, n.d.). As an open-source project, the Bitcoin source code is publicly accessible, allowing users to examine, modify, and distribute it within the terms of the MIT License. Yet, it is important to emphasize that being open source does not mean that Bitcoin is in the public domain. The public domain refers to works that are not protected by intellectual property rights, but Bitcoin’s open-source status does not negate its intellectual property protections (Laurent, 2004). While the Bitcoin source code is freely available, it remains subject to copyright protection (Stokes, 2019). It is crucial to understand that copyright and open-source licensing coexist, allowing individuals to exercise their rights and obligations under the MIT License while preserving the intellectual property rights associated with Bitcoin (Lindberg, 2008). What is more, it is worth noting that other forms of intellectual property, such as database rights, operate independently from copyright and may have their own legal implications (Coleman, 2009)...."

Annotated Bibliography: Open Source and Development
By Craig Wright
06 Dec 2023 | Bitcoin & Blockchain Tech

https://craigwright.net/blog/bitcoin-blockchain-tech/annotated-bibliography-open-source-and-development/?s=09