Hi. I wrote a database before I joined a client however i allowed them to make use of the database. i am now leaving and want to put an expiry date into the code so that they will be forced to buy a legalised version. can this be done? how else to protect my intellectual property?
Protecting intellectual property
- Thread starter digib
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hmmm. dangerous ground here
be careful what you do
if you "gave" the programme to the company - it would be a bit hard to retract this , also how much of the orginal programme belongs to you,- ie have you copied pasted any of the hints tips say from this site - if yes then you don't own any rights at all..if you do put some code in here to shut the software down after 30 days - then you need to have some form of contractural arrangement to resolve - you cannot just throw a spanner in the works and bail out
s to the code itself - check the samples - but beware -if you cause a company to cease trading or loss profitability - you could be dragged through a court at te worst , or not get a reference
whatever you do - be careful (and good luck in your next venture)
be careful what you do
if you "gave" the programme to the company - it would be a bit hard to retract this , also how much of the orginal programme belongs to you,- ie have you copied pasted any of the hints tips say from this site - if yes then you don't own any rights at all..if you do put some code in here to shut the software down after 30 days - then you need to have some form of contractural arrangement to resolve - you cannot just throw a spanner in the works and bail out
s to the code itself - check the samples - but beware -if you cause a company to cease trading or loss profitability - you could be dragged through a court at te worst , or not get a reference
whatever you do - be careful (and good luck in your next venture)
Intellectual Property
Thanks for your reply. I had already headed the advice given previously and decided that I would not do anything to the database other that place a text message on the switchboard. I am thinking of putting this in.....
This database is the property of XXX and may not be copied or reproduced in any format without the prior written permission of XXX.
Please contact XXX should you wish to receive technical assistance or purchase a legalised copy of this database.
Do you think this will be ok? I know that anyone could go in to design view and delete it at a later stage.
With respect to your question - the database was written a year or so before joining this client - and was entirely my own work. This is the first time I have joined this forum.
Thanks for your reply. I had already headed the advice given previously and decided that I would not do anything to the database other that place a text message on the switchboard. I am thinking of putting this in.....
This database is the property of XXX and may not be copied or reproduced in any format without the prior written permission of XXX.
Please contact XXX should you wish to receive technical assistance or purchase a legalised copy of this database.
Do you think this will be ok? I know that anyone could go in to design view and delete it at a later stage.
With respect to your question - the database was written a year or so before joining this client - and was entirely my own work. This is the first time I have joined this forum.
ajetrumpet
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I'm not a programmer, but here are my comments to this:
Every company, of any size, has an IT department, and a programming staff. So, what good would that message of yours do? How could you tell if they didn't just go in and expanded on your application? The number of laws surrounding this situation cannot even be counted on a million hands! Are you trying to get a bit of profit out of this? Did you develop it specifically for corporate use? Did they pay you for it (did you actually "sell" it to them), or was it your service to the company when working there?
I guess your first post answers that question...but still, when you starting working for this firm, did you sell them the application? If not, you should have!
Every company, of any size, has an IT department, and a programming staff. So, what good would that message of yours do? How could you tell if they didn't just go in and expanded on your application? The number of laws surrounding this situation cannot even be counted on a million hands! Are you trying to get a bit of profit out of this? Did you develop it specifically for corporate use? Did they pay you for it (did you actually "sell" it to them), or was it your service to the company when working there?
I guess your first post answers that question...but still, when you starting working for this firm, did you sell them the application? If not, you should have!
Intellectual Property
Hi Gary
Yes, thanks for your response and indeed, any person in the IT department could very well remove this and anyone knows that. I did not sell the database to the company, neither did I, in any way, benefit financially from letting them use it. It was also not a requirement of my contract and neither was it designed to aid in my job. However, there is a need for this in the corporate world and I would like to market it in the future. I have put this down to a learning experience and will walk away. The one plus I will take out of this is that I know that the database works! Thanks once again for your response. I may however, still convert the database to a .mde before I go however, there would be nothing stopping the company restoring the old .mdb file from the last time they did a server backup. As I stated before, a learning experience all around. Hopefully, others attending this forum will learn from my mistakes too. Kind regards, Di
Hi Gary
Yes, thanks for your response and indeed, any person in the IT department could very well remove this and anyone knows that. I did not sell the database to the company, neither did I, in any way, benefit financially from letting them use it. It was also not a requirement of my contract and neither was it designed to aid in my job. However, there is a need for this in the corporate world and I would like to market it in the future. I have put this down to a learning experience and will walk away. The one plus I will take out of this is that I know that the database works! Thanks once again for your response. I may however, still convert the database to a .mde before I go however, there would be nothing stopping the company restoring the old .mdb file from the last time they did a server backup. As I stated before, a learning experience all around. Hopefully, others attending this forum will learn from my mistakes too. Kind regards, Di
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