Legal Question in Technology Law in Maine
source code
I recently developed a very large Web Application for a customer. When we started the project, there was no discussion as to who would get the rights to the source code. The client has now sent me a contract that, upon me signing it, would give them full rights to the source code. I was wondering if I do this, and a month down the road I go take the source code and modify it to make the system better than it is, can I repackage it and sell it as a fully functioning product without breaking any copyright laws? Or would I have to start from scratch?
Thank you,
Lucid Web Designs
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: source code
You would need to start from scratch and even then you'd have to make sure it didn't get too similar. Don't sign the agreement because, unless you've signed anything else, you own the copyrights and it is yours. You can grant them rights to use the code instead of giving all the rights to them. Contact me if you want assistance with this; I do Internet law.
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