It&#x27;s my understanding that the problem is not with source theft&#x2F;copying in violation of licensing. It&#x27;s with cloning an API.<p>If Oracle (or anyone) can copyright an API then we might as well pack up and go home. By that measure, you make a new JavaScript library for LeftPad and copyright the <i>API</i> along with the source. Now people start using your library. But it&#x27;s inefficient. So I come along and clone it, make it faster, better, stronger, the $6 million LeftPad-compatible clone. You can sue me for violating your API copyright.<p>Welcome to the end.