Buying a program code from programmers overseas.

[Ultrav1s1on]

I am currently in california and am about to select a programmer overseas to write a small amount of code for a project..


My question is.... Since I am paying for them to specially make me a code, what are the necessary steps for me to take to obtain full ownership of the code once they write it and I pay them for the work. Is there a name of a release form I need to have them sign? or contract? I want to potentially be able to distribute the code that I am paying for with a future piece of hardware.

If having them sign a form of sale and release is the way to go, is there a possibility to have it electronically signed.



Any help/advice is greatly appreciated!.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[The Occultist]

Before going into such a business venture you are definitely going to want to sit down with an attorney versed in such law. This is especially true since the whole overseas thing can make things complicated; for instance, if something went wrong and you wanted to pursue any legal action against this guy, you would need to do so using the courts, and thus the laws, in his country.

[Ultrav1s1on]

That would completely defeat the purpose of this website and my coming here.

Right? That is why this website is here.... so people who don't have the money too, don't need to go to lawyers for simple questions like this.


" that's because I know more than you! "


Thats what I thought.... Know enough to answer my question?

[Tallrat]

Originally Posted by Ultrav1s1on

That would completely defeat the purpose of this website and my coming here.

Right? That is why this website is here.... so people who don't have the money too, don't need to go to lawyers for simple questions like this.

That is not a simple question. You want to be legally protected be prepared to spend a few bucks.

[The Occultist]

Originally Posted by Ultrav1s1on

That would completely defeat the purpose of this website and my coming here.

Sometimes a situation is too complicated to involve a website of people whose credentials cannot be verified.

Right? That is why this website is here.... so people who don't have the money too, don't need to go to lawyers for simple questions like this.

If the laws in question involve the laws of another country, then this website cannot help you in the least as this website deals in US law only.

" that's because I know more than you! "

This is mostly a joke. My signature used to read "[sic]Just because I have senior member status doesn't mean that I know what I'm talking about", but another poster that tended to disagree with me (don't remember if it was Jim or Cepe) decided to use that against me in a debate, which is what caused me to change my sig.

Thats what I thought.... Know enough to answer my question?

No, no I don't, but I do know that the advice I gave is likely the best advice you will receive from a website which offers "free" advice.

Due to the nature of the advice you are seeking, and due to the damages that can potentially be assessed towards you, and due to the damages you may likely wish to assess from somebody else in a DIFFERENT country should events not favor what you intended, you should not entrust your legal advice to a website of volunteers. In this area of law, I believe there are only 2 or 3 members on this board (note that I am NOT one of them) that might be able to offer better advice than I have given, but due to the fact that at least one of them has visited this forum since my post and NOT corrected me, it's likely that what I said is accurate. There is still one poster that is VERY knowledgeable, but I've not seen him on this board in awhile, so, while he may have some insight to offer you, he hasn't stopped by to share it. No matter what his excellent advice would be, it would most certainly include sitting down with an attorney (sometimes, that IS the best advice).

Do not be afraid of sitting down with an attorney. Many attorneys will offer free/cheap consultations. And no matter what the situation, before entering any business situation which could involve legal matters, you should ALWAYS speak with an attorney that has the credentials required to give you the most accurate advice.

That all being said, if you don't like the FREE advice you have received here, you are free to look elsewhere.

Anyways, you claim that your question was "simple". Well, if it's so simple, then why do you not know the answer? The fact is, you don't know that this is a simple matter. Since you are considering entering a contract with somebody in another country, if you chose to pursue legal action against him, you would need to do so using the laws of his country, of which I doubt anybody on this website, or any other US-based legal site, has much knowledge in. Granted, if he tried to pursue legal action against you for any reason, he would need to use our legal system (more specifically, the legal system of the state in which you reside), so perhaps some vets on this board can offer some insight. Either way, I would not classify your question as "simple".