HW15: Chapter 15

15.10. The reuse of software raises a number of copyright and intellectual property issues. If a customer pays a software contractor to develop a system, who has the right to reuse the developed code? Does the software contractor have the right to use that code as a basis for a generic component? What payment mechanisms might be used to reimburse providers of reusable components? Discuss these issues and other ethical issues associated with the reuse of software.

It would depend on the language the contract uses. If it explicitly states that the coder retains rights to the code then by all means he may re use it. however if the contract states that all rights are transferred to the customer then it can not be touched. Perhaps a payment method in the vein of royalties for music can be beneficial here. Whenever the code is reused the writer must pay a royalty to the owner much like how music on the radio works.