clients and .fla files
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- wetterink
I just wanted to know what you guys do when a client insists you give him the .fla file to a website.
He has mentioned he has been "playing around" with Flash. I am worried once he gets it he will ruin my design and all of that sort of stuff.
My namae will be on it and linked from my site...I don't want it to look like I did it if he screwed it up...but I also want to be able to showcase it.
- stewart0
no.
or pay extra.
- dippy0
tell the client that's not how you work -- it compromises the integrity and quality of your project. And append your contract so it includes a clause about the client tampering with the production process (including their direct modification of .flas, .psd files, etc.).
Just a suggestion.
- Warland0
You should work that out beforehand. In essence, if you sold the guy a design, website whatever, and got paid, he owns it. If it went to court you would get trounced.
It gets a little tricky when they ask for source. Personally, I charge more for source files. And it's in the contract. And discussed before hand.
Maybe the guy would be reasonable enough to work something out with you.
- wetterink0
In my contract it says I get first chance to make changes...if I refuse he can shop elswhere. I just didn't think about him doing it himself. Most clients can even print things without a hassle.
- Warland0
Isn't that the truth. I put that little clause in my contracts the first time a client murdered a site.
Anyhoo... giving him the option to shop elsewhere for changes if you refuse kind of implies that you would relinquish the source files doesn't it?
Like I said, try and reason with the guy.
- Rand0
if the client is someone I can no longer stand working for, I give them the files. They're such a disgusting mess no one could ever make sense of them anyway
- josimarX0
I rencently created a site for a London based client. They then opened offices in Russia and asked me to supply a company they were now working with (who knew all about Russian translation) the .fla files of my original Flash English language site. They insisted these files were only going to be used to grab logos from and colours etc... I wasn't happy at all about this as they were unwilling to pay anything for me sending the files threatening legal action more or less and saying the files were their property (the cocks). Anyway, I gave them the files and the design company proceeded to use them as is, aprt from puting in their extremely untidy Russian translation. I am waiting for the day (probably quite soon) when said client asks me to update the English site and I tell them to fuck off. Pure droppin the client like Josh Davis and Kioken man, I'm fucking amazin'
- UndoUndo0
here the client has no IP on the fla or other such files. They own the output files which are the swf files, and any jpg, gif or png from your psd files. Your design process [layers in psd, code and format in fla is your own Interlectual Property]. in a court of law you own the tools and they own the finished product. The cost of taking you to court to get the files against hiring another designer to decompile your swf's etc isn't worth them even bothering with the courts....although they may threaten you!!
....sounds like your heading for disaster when the client "is just getting into flash"
....are you supporting him when he gets all messed up and needs someone to look over his code?
- rabattski0
that's not true warland. if there's nothing in writing concerning the rights than the rights are with the creator and not the client incl. the source files.
if he wants it you can charge extra money for it. make sure you make a clause that it's his stuff and he's responsible for what he does with it not you.
- Warland0
Ahh... well fair nuff. I stand corrected, Me personally, I have that in writing to avoid it even coming to an argument.
- rabattski0
well having it in writing is ofcourse better than not. you could always point to the contract for such issues. if not you always have a chance a client going buckwild and threatening to sue you. now, you won't lose but you don't need the hassle. so it's smarter to already cover that in writing.
- JazX0
I'mnot condoning it, but if he/she is smart enough they can just take the .swf and crack it wide open via URL or actual file.