Oracle did something similar with the network protocol of its database driver. Not to prevent copying, but to prevent others from writing their own drivers: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;dacut.blogspot.de&#x2F;2008&#x2F;03&#x2F;oracle-poetry.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;dacut.blogspot.de&#x2F;2008&#x2F;03&#x2F;oracle-poetry.html</a>