I have been working on a website for a client for the last two months,
and part of it is being developed in Flash. The flash area of the
sight is a simple animated remote that controls a framed website. A
contracted employee called today and said that they are having another
company set up the database section of their website, and that the
this contractor needs the .fla files I developed.

I don't feel comftorable doing this however because I worry that their
is a huge possibility of them working me out of the picture. There
has been some issues with them that unfortunatley stirred up a fire at
the office. Months ago, an one of their employees(hes some type of
contractor, but hes on salary) whipped himself out when i walked into
the office room we were sharing and proceeded to masturbate to porn he
was playing on his laptop with me standing their. At the time I was
stunned, and didn't know what to do...so I sat at the desk I was
using(trying to ignore him), found my cigarrettes and then made my way
for the door. This happened twice, but I was afraid of losing my
position if I made a stink about this pervert and then was able to
corraborate my story.

Since then, they have found out about the Masurbator, and I was told
he was going to be fired...this has yet to happen. Today "Bob"
messages me and requests the source files, pressumably so the another
contractor can integrate the flash with their database.

I don't want to give up the files..but if it is true that this other
company is going to need them, then I feel obligated to work wth them
on this. I don't want my actions to reflect poorly on me, because I
really need this client for the time being. I used to have a few at a
time, but when this company hired me, I had no time for work outside
of them...so really ALL my eggs are in their basket.

Sorry for the ramble, I know this sounds weird, but I could really use
the advice. I just started my own business, and ALL of this is new to
me.

-Ickymuffin

Hold on to your files unless they pay for the ownership of the files.
Another option is to get in contact with the other company and find out
exactly what they want the files for and then have a direct contact with
them.

/?Tomas

so dont do it - theyve paid for use of the SWF and unless youve signed over
the copywrite of the project to them they have no authority to request the
files. Simply state that you do not wish to jepordise their relationship
with you by having a 3rd party edit the FLA.

If they insist get them to sign a contract for £x over X months inorder to
secure the long term contracts - even ask for exclusivity

if they dont agree to this then say they have to buy the copyright from you
which costs the £x sum listed above!

just watch your back side or theyll try to screw you.

....even if they seem like nice guys

mark
"Ickymuffin" <ickymuffin@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f33a4dec.0409291532.1913b0dd@posting.google.c om...

I just handed over fla files to my old employer who's been using me to do
demos. They are outsourcing to India. I modified the files so the
screenshots can be edited, but didn't hand over the dynamic drop-down menu,
which took a year or two to develop. I guess you have to choose your
battles. Still, it sounds like you're training your replacement, so to
speak. Sucks.

Jeremy

"Ickymuffin" <ickymuffin@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f33a4dec.0409291532.1913b0dd@posting.google.c om...

Icky

I agree with the others. Don't give over your source files. Just like
a photographer's films, your FLA files are YOUR intellectual property.
You own them like an artist owns his pencils. The client has license
(or rights depending on your agreement) to use the finished product,
but they can't use your intellectual property without your agreement.

Large corporations (and smart small companies/designers) consider
source files to be of the same caliber as "Trade Secrets," e.g. the
formula for Coca Cola, the Colonel's 11 Secret Herbs & Spices, the
mathematical equation used to determine your credit score (that's
right folks, it's proprietary information). Consider your source files
to be as secret as David Blaine's magic tricks.

And while we're on the subject, I would make the price for the FLAs
CONSIDERABLY larger than that of the finished project. Think about it
this way: Your source files are the sum total of your life/work
experience. All of the education (formal or otherwise), headache,
hardship, joy, etcetera that has gotten you to the point of being able
to creatively render ideas in your chosen format is bundled into the
work that you do. WHY OH WHY would anyone just _give_ that away?

Well stated, Jey.

Dan
http://www.FreelanceWorkshops.com




"Jey Gifford" <jgifford@soboba.net> wrote in message
news:c9e312a2.0409302029.40e8f740@posting.google.c om...