Why would a company do this?

[Drakkon]

I was contacted a while back about a piece of software I had programmed. The company publishing it was wondering if it could be converted from the old source (piece done as a CD only project - now they wanted it online - It was done using Flash components but it would be complicated as the underlying code used classes of a totally different nature). I knew the pieces and could do it for, what i thought, was a relatively cheap price and time frame. They decided they didn't want to go with me - which I said okay - if you need any help you will be charged my standard hourly rate. A few months go by and i hear nothing new so i think they must've found someone else

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. A get a message from the old company asking if I still had the original source as they had lost it (which if i didn't...well...i cannot even imagine what they would do then...). They had secured a bid, have another programmer in place ready to go and now needed the source so they could begin production. Now 2 things immediately hit me: 1. why would someone put in a bid without knowing what they were converting? 2. why would a company accept a bid without knowing what they are getting into?

I received an email today from the new "programmer" - a gentleman from India who types broken English asking for help. I can only imagine how cheaply he must be working for as he references a "team".

 

[racolvin]

I certainly hope you told him "no" and didn't provide the source code

 

[SparkyJJO]

Heck it is your software you could say no and have someone else publish it couldn't you?

 

[sdifox]

here is an idea, shove whatever documentation you have into some online translator and translate it into Hindu and send that to him.

 

[JS80]

Milk them for the max they will pay.

 

[KLin]

It sounds like this company is run by people not much smarter than a bag of hammers.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Heck it is your software you could say no and have someone else publish it couldn't you?

It depends on the original contract but it probably isn't "his" software. If he met the terms of the contract and has already provided the source code, he'd have no further obligation.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Heck it is your software you could say no and have someone else publish it couldn't you?

It depends on the original contract but it probably isn't "his" software. If he met the terms of the contract and has already provided the source code, he'd have no further obligation.

yep - and they are planning on continuing publication of the CD versions so I'm limited by that as well.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: KLin
It sounds like this company is run by people not much smarter than a bag of hammers.

Isn't the correct phrase "a bag of nails"?

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Heck it is your software you could say no and have someone else publish it couldn't you?

It depends on the original contract but it probably isn't "his" software. If he met the terms of the contract and has already provided the source code, he'd have no further obligation.

yep - and they are planning on continuing publication of the CD versions so I'm limited by that as well.

Sounds like they basically get your services for free now, doesn't it?

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: KLin
It sounds like this company is run by people not much smarter than a bag of hammers.

Isn't the correct phrase "a bag of nails"?

http://www.urbandictionary.com...erm=bag%20of%20hammers

bag of dull nails is probably valid too to describe the people running this company too. :laugh:

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Heck it is your software you could say no and have someone else publish it couldn't you?

It depends on the original contract but it probably isn't "his" software. If he met the terms of the contract and has already provided the source code, he'd have no further obligation.

if he did it under contract and the contract states they own the software, he has no recourse. if he wants to be a dick and withhold the source code, saying he doesnt have it anymore, he can. he can not really charge them for it at that point, however. i keep all source code for everything we do, and freely give it to the owners when requested. if they want any work done on it or any further documentation it costs them. everything i write is the property of the contract holder, keeps it simple.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Heck it is your software you could say no and have someone else publish it couldn't you?

It depends on the original contract but it probably isn't "his" software. If he met the terms of the contract and has already provided the source code, he'd have no further obligation.

yep - and they are planning on continuing publication of the CD versions so I'm limited by that as well.

Sounds like they basically get your services for free now, doesn't it?

Err no. IF they want his help, he will charge them for his time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_for_hire

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Heck it is your software you could say no and have someone else publish it couldn't you?

It depends on the original contract but it probably isn't "his" software. If he met the terms of the contract and has already provided the source code, he'd have no further obligation.

yep - and they are planning on continuing publication of the CD versions so I'm limited by that as well.

Sounds like they basically get your services for free now, doesn't it?

Nope...like quoted - I met my obligation on the original project. And like i put in first paragraph - i charge them hourly for any work done from here on. So source code uploading - there is a charge if i want (likely wont just so I can consult on more issues) - consultant time to this guy from India - that's another # of hours tacked on.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: KLin

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: KLin
It sounds like this company is run by people not much smarter than a bag of hammers.

Isn't the correct phrase "a bag of nails"?

http://www.urbandictionary.com...erm=bag%20of%20hammers

bag of dull nails is probably valid too to describe the people running this company too. :laugh:

I prefer the term, "Box-of-rocks." It's usually very fitting.

 

[hanoverphist]

i prefer "a few sammiches short of a picnic" personally

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Heck it is your software you could say no and have someone else publish it couldn't you?

It depends on the original contract but it probably isn't "his" software. If he met the terms of the contract and has already provided the source code, he'd have no further obligation.

yep - and they are planning on continuing publication of the CD versions so I'm limited by that as well.

Sounds like they basically get your services for free now, doesn't it?

Nope...like quoted - I met my obligation on the original project. And like i put in first paragraph - i charge them hourly for any work done from here on. So source code uploading - there is a charge if i want (likely wont just so I can consult on more issues) - consultant time to this guy from India - that's another # of hours tacked on.

Oh, then I misinterpreted your reply. You must already be thinking in Hindi.