Am i obligated to give the source code and support of the software I have created for a client especially if the client wanted to add some functionalities? For how long?
+7
A:
It depends what your written contract with the client says.
In the absence of a contract, it probably depends on your jurisdiction. Ask a lawyer.
Adam Jaskiewicz
2009-03-18 15:03:33
+4
A:
This really depends on the terms of the agreement you have with the client. Generally when I get contracted for a job it's usually implicitly understood that my source code will be going to them when I am done. Also I generally provide support for them whenever I can. It is always good to keep relations friendly in case you ever want to work for them again.
I don't really understand why people don't want to give their source code, that they made for a client, to the client. Most of the time it is highly specialized and it's not like you can't reuse your design elsewhere...
kgrad
2009-03-18 15:04:52
+7
A:
It all depends on your contract.
However, if you want to keep your client, it's probably a good idea to come to an agreement they're happy with, even if your contract doesn't explicitly state what they want.
Bravax
2009-03-18 15:04:57
You want the customer to be happy, they bring more to you
TStamper
2009-03-18 15:45:45
+1
A:
It depends on the client, the contract and the business area you write code in. But as others already said, I have seldom heard of the customer not getting all rights to the code. Unless you are paid to write open source code of course.
Magnus
2009-03-18 15:08:13
A:
As others have mentioned, it depends on the contract, but I usually will charge them more if they want the source afterwards. Same with support, just charge for it.
If they don't want the source, after the project is completed, you could always just open-source the code. This way it helps the developer community as a whole. Just make sure you have a clause in your contract that allows you, should you want to.
ibjhb
2009-03-18 15:08:19
+2
A:
If you have written proprietary software by/for yourself and sold the software (executable only) to the client (w/o a contract) then they don't have rights to the source code.
If there IS a contract. SEE THE CONTRACT. Any other advise that I or other people give is based entirely on our experience and won't necessarily apply to your situation. CHECK THE CONTRACT.
But generally, as kgrad mentioned, if you wrote the source code FOR them, then they probably have contract language that makes them own it.
+1
A:
It depends on the contract. In most cases, they will be just happy to have just a license.
fastcodejava
2010-05-31 02:34:40