It's copyrightable like a book. It's patentable like a mouse trap. It can hold trade secrets, like a glass of Coca Cola. The consumer has to "sign" a contract to use it, like a cellphone account. Advertising pitches can be included for a captive audience, just like a movie theater. It's artificially expensive, like a diamond. It's a recurring source of support revenue, like a lawn service. Its creator can disavow all liability for anything that may go wrong, and get away with it.