copyright on custom developed Access db app

[Dan]

Hi,

One of the directors at my wife's work recently approached me about
doing a custom Access database application for them. Because of the
personal relationship with them I want to give them a good rate so I've
decided to discount what I would normally have charged by 30%.

Because of that drop in price I'm leaning towards telling them (before
I start doing the work) that I'd like to own the copyright and I'll
give them a non-exclusive use license for it.

It's something that they need for their own internal use and not
something that they would attempt to sell.

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether this is a good idea or not? I
don't usually take IC development jobs and haven't personally
encountered this before...

Thanks in advance,

Dan

 

[Jerry Whittle]

Can you sell it to another company? If not, don't worry about it. Either
which way, even discussing it might spoil the personal relationship between
the company and you with your wife caught in the middle. Something to
consider.

With me the customer always owns the database. I give them the source code.
I reserve the right to reuse parts of the code but nothing significate. For
example I once did databases for two different towing companies, but
basically started on a clean sheet with the second database. I did reuse some
code and of course there were lessons learned which I applied.

Later the first towing company decided to sell a copy of thier database to
yet another towing company (like selling bullets to the enemy, but I
digress). It was theirs to sell. I made some money off of it by modifying the
database to the needs of the new towing company.

 

[Nick Coe \(UK\)]

If you haven't quoted yet, ask them if they want to have the
copyright. You say 'It will be cheaper if you don't have
the copyright, but it's your choice'...

If you have already quoted then you will have to judge your
course of action based upon what sort of relationship you
have with them and what advice your wife can give you about
how they might react regarding copyright. Could be tricky
but you never know, they might be quite sanguine about it...

--
Nick Coe (UK)
http://www.alphacos.co.uk/ AccHelp is now Free
http://www.mrcomputersltd.com/ Repairs Upgrades

In
Dan typed:

 

[Dan]

Thanks for the quick feedback, guys, I really appreciate it.

I have already given them a best guess quote (nothing's been signed)
based on the initial specs we talked about and we have a meeting later
today to go over an updated list of specs.

Maybe I'll approach it by just asking if they'd mind if I retain the
copyright on it because of the discount I've given and just play it by
ear from there.

Thanks again!

Dan