Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!waikato.ac.nz!hamish From: hamish@waikato.ac.nz Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer Subject: Re: Programming obligations Message-ID: <1991May20.133708.3738@waikato.ac.nz> Date: 20 May 91 01:37:08 GMT References: Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand Lines: 41 In article , tmasune@telstr.UUCP (Ted Masune) writes: > I have a question for all you prgrammers out their that sell > your customized programs to businesses. I was contracted > verbally to a business to do some customized programming for > two of their applications. The programs basically let you > enter data, process it and print the results to a printer or > file. They were completely satisfied with the program. > After a few more adjustments to the programs, they paid me my > fee and I was on my way. It has been almost a year now. > They have now asked me to give them the source code for the > programs. I told them that it would be an additional cost. > They told me that I owed it to them at no cost. I know have > found out that they are franchising their business and intend > to sell the programs to the franchises. I told them that > they should pay me royalties for the programs. They said no > I don't think so. What should I do? What am I legally > obligated to them. In my mind I don't beleive that I was > contracted to give them the source and I think I should be > entitled to royalities. Any help on the subject would be > greatly appreciated. Thanks > > > Internet : sharkey.cc.umich.edu!wybbs!telstr!tmasune > CompuServe : 73617,344 What country are you in? As far as I know, unless there was a written agreement for the contractor (ie them) to own the programs, then you own all source and they simply use your program. Stick to your guns. I also believe this very question was thrashed on the net about a year ago, but I can't remember the whole outcome. Does anybody know any different? -- ============================================================================== | Hamish Marson | | Computer Support Person, Computer Science Department | | University of Waikato | |Disclaimer: Anything said in this message is the personal opinion of the | | finger hitting the keyboard & doesn't represent my employers | | opinion in any way. (ie we probably don't agree) | ==============================================================================