🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <tmasune.0853@telstr.UUCP>, 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   <h.marson@waikato.ac.nz>                                    |
|  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)               |
==============================================================================