There was a thread here about this a while back.

Some of us think the code belongs to the programmer and the customers bought a 1 time solution.

Some of us think the code belongs to the customer because the system should be easily upgraded.

I think the fair compromise is that the CI firm bills the client for the code.


The biggest problem is that the customers arent aware that they need the code until they need it. This is a standard/habit/policy that needs to be addressed and changed across our industry.

Reasons customers need code backups:

1.Original CI firm sucks. They need to hire someone to finish job.
2.Original CI firm is gone from the face of the earth. They need to hire someone to finish the job.
3.Customer is a cheap SOB and thinks they should be able to get free programming forever. These customers are the same ones who want to change their directv favorites every 2 weeks.

Adding to #3. These customers typically end up paying 2 or 3 times more trying to do things the wrong way vs. just calling up the original CI firm like they should have.