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Freelance contract gives client total code control. Need advice.
I agreed to write software for a startup last week. Their contract says they own all code I produce, even common bits I use often. One side says this is fine to keep clients happy and secure. The other side worries I lose the ability to work on similar stuff later. I really like this project but don't want to sign away my future work. What do you all think is a fair middle ground? How have you changed these clauses before?
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nora_webb515mo ago
Man, this reminds me of a buddy who signed a contract like that for a simple website. Two years later, he got a nasty letter from their lawyers just for using a standard login form on another site. It wasn't even the same code, just a similar idea. He spent months and a ton of money just to prove it was basic stuff everyone uses. I'd be really careful about letting them own absolutely everything.
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haydenthomas6mo ago
Think about the client's own tech debt down the line. If you can't reuse standard code, every bug fix becomes a custom job, slowing updates. That might cost them more than owning just the unique parts.
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scott.alex6mo ago
Whoa, hold up, have you thought about how this could stop you from using even basic coding tricks later? If they own EVERY piece you write, you might not be allowed to use common patterns in other jobs, not just whole code sections. That means stuff like standard loops or functions could become a legal problem for you. Push for a change so you keep rights to anything you used before or is general, and they only own the special parts for their project. I know people who fought in court over this, and it is a huge headache.
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gracej996mo ago
Scott, most contracts I've seen don't claim ownership over basic coding tricks! They only cover the special parts made for the project.
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