Source Code Ownership

Subject: Re: Source Code Ownership

Comments:
: I have a question about the Intellectual Property rights for software I developed. Here is the situation... : I have a client who approached me about writing some software to control some commercially available video hardware. I wrote a quote that had the cost of equipment and an estimate for my time (hourly rate). I thought it was understood that I lowballed the quote for my time because this project would give me the opportunity to develop and application that I could later resale to others. Other than the quote, there was and is no other contract or written agreement. Now that I have received strong interest in the product from others, the client now wants to claim ownership of source code. : Here are some facts of this case… : ·I have my own business. The client in question pays my invoices as a 1099 vendor. Invoices are sent out per project. : ·The client is not in a business that is remotely close to the business of selling software/hardware packages. : ·I have not billed or been paid for the project in question yet. : ·The client paid for the hardware (but not yet the modifications made to it) and a software module required to make the hardware useable. : ·About 50% of the work was done at client site because the client owns equipment that the box must interface to. : ·In order to make a commercially viable product, much more work must be done to the software and hardware. About 90 to 100% additional code must be added to create the final product. The final version would have features that would NEVER be required by the original client. : ·The code is based upon a code standard I developed independently and have used for 6 years on my own. I consider this code standard a trade secret. : ·The license for the development environment used belongs to me.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

Do not disclose any details of any copyright or any facts relating to your circumstances. See a lawyer.
Before you post a message you must agree to the Terms of Use.