Sell a website, or sell source code?
GHoosdum
Icrontian
When providing a website for a customer, is it customary that the product the customer has paid for is the website you created, or the source code for that website?
We're having an issue where we created a website for a customer, and then another company wooed that customer away by offering integration with their account management system.
After the customer accepted that company's offer, the company simply took our existing source code, wrapped it in their crappy looking header/footer/menu, and called it their product.
We're not sure whether we have any right to bitch about this - did our customer buy the website we produced, or the source code (which would, I assume, allow the new company to use our code) - or would we have to specify that in advance?
We're having an issue where we created a website for a customer, and then another company wooed that customer away by offering integration with their account management system.
After the customer accepted that company's offer, the company simply took our existing source code, wrapped it in their crappy looking header/footer/menu, and called it their product.
We're not sure whether we have any right to bitch about this - did our customer buy the website we produced, or the source code (which would, I assume, allow the new company to use our code) - or would we have to specify that in advance?
0
Comments
Unless you explicitely say "you don't own the code, you own the rights to use it and our implementation" .. you are sunk
I'm more irked that the company they hired to replace us used the code. If the customer had used it themselves, I wouldn't mind so much.
What kind of agreement did you have with the client..? Was it granular enough to protect your source..? If not, you effectively gave them whatever work you did.. for them to do with.. and that means the code is not protected. Harsh
note the heavy use of 'pay us'.
--edit
if you have no morals and ethics, study your code, find a back door and break stuff...... shhhhh... i didn't say that....
[NOTE I no way condone illegal computer activities and this post was fictitious entertainment, and in no way should it be considered advice.]