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If you were writing the code on a contractual basis for the company, then they presumably own the code. If you produced a piece of software and then licensed it
by DanielStraight 11y ago
If you were writing the code on a contractual basis for the company, then they presumably own the code. If you produced a piece of software and then licensed it to them, you would still own the code, but that does not sound like the case here.
So, presumably they own the code, which means they can do whatever they want with it. The best you can likely do is advise them that it may provide them a competitive advantage to not allow other companies to use the same code. The other contractors involved will definitely not own the code. They will only be able to use it as dictated by the company for which you wrote it.
I am not a lawyer; this is not legal advice.
- brudgers 11y ago[IANAL, either] In the US, the author of works created under contract retains copyright unless it is explicitly reassigned to someone else. The author of works done as an employee are the typical situation where the default is to deem the relationship as work for hire and assign copyright to someone other than the author.
- delicatethings 11y agoThis makes sense. My client owns the code by the conditions of our agreement. Your recomendation about advising them seems very reasonable and I'll probably do it. I'll also tell them about properly licensing their software. Seems like a good way to not burn bridges and at the same time subtlety show my concerns. It also feels the right thing to do. Thanks.