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Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
21–30 of 62 posts
Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#22https://github.com/andreapaiola/F-D-/blob/master/fade.php What is the point of making this a class rather than just a simple function?
It's more powerful, obviously :D
No, it's a joke.
Well... It's OOP vs procedural in reality, right?
If you want it you can PR... a new file fade-procedural.php
Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#23https://github.com/andreapaiola/F-D-/blob/master/fade.php What is the point of making this a class rather than just a simple function?
It ticks the "object-oriented" box.
This is a joke project after all, I wouldn't mind seeing even more gratuitous complexity like FadePaidFactoryInterfaceFactory.
Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is illegal. If you already gave up your work and the client still needs to pay better be polite or in the end call a lawyer. Everything harmful to the client that you do is illegal including public shaming, destroying your work, etc.
Nope, public shaming is 100% legal and protected speech. In specific cases it may be a contract breach, but that does not make it illegal. The largest direct problem with this stuff can be a tiny hit to your reputation. That said, they may sue or counter sue you, which is often a dumb move but by not paying you that have demonstrated sketchy behavior.
This is actually illegal, public shaming would be protected speech if you do it via a proper platform, destroying or tampering with a property which does not belong to you is a criminal offense.
Additionally depending on what country you are in this can also be a an offense according to various computer crime laws which means you are not only risking a committing a felony but also being unable to work if the law where you live allows the state to bar you from using a computer.
Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#25Is it legal to build self-destruct systems into contracted work? I'd be super wary of adding this...
Put a clause into the contract which says that you own all copyrights, IP, etc. until such time as payment has cleared. It is perfectly legal for you to mangle your own web site. Even if it's a site you made at someone else's request. If they haven't paid, they don't own it, and they have no right to complain.
Your copyright may give you rights to sue the client for infringement once it's clear they aren't going to remedy their breach, yes.
A judge may order the copy of your work taken offline or destroyed, yes.
But you can't take matters into your own hands and do that without going to court.
You do not own the (unlicensed or otherwise) copies of your work that have already been transferred to others, and going onto their server to destroy/modify the site is not only a civil wrong on your part, but a crime under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#26Is it legal to build self-destruct systems into contracted work? I'd be super wary of adding this...
Put a clause into the contract which says that you own all copyrights, IP, etc. until such time as payment has cleared. It is perfectly legal for you to mangle your own web site. Even if it's a site you made at someone else's request. If they haven't paid, they don't own it, and they have no right to complain.
You can't take claim of the IP/copyright no business/client would also sign that contract.
You can claim ownership of the work until the payment is cleared but this is also tricky.
If the website is hosted on the property of the client tampering with it will constitute a violation of most computer crime/misuse acts even if you hold valid credentials to access it.
The best thing to do is if you also operate the website (hosting it on a VPS which you pay for) as part of the contract just terminate the service in accordance to the SLA in the contract, if you do not host the website do not do anything to it just seek legal action.
Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#27When I was freelancing, all of my work resided on my own private servers. As soon as I received the final payment, it was transferered to the client.
I never had any issues.
Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#28Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nope, public shaming is 100% legal and protected speech. In specific cases it may be a contract breach, but that does not make it illegal. The largest direct problem with this stuff can be a tiny hit to your reputation. That said, they may sue or counter sue you, which is often a dumb move but by not paying you that have demonstrated sketchy behavior.
This is actually illegal, public shaming would be protected speech if you do it via a proper platform, destroying or tampering with a property which does not belong to you is a criminal offense. Additionally depending on what country you are in this can also be a an offense according to various computer crime laws which means you are not only risking a committing a felony but also being unable to work if the law wher…
If you word the contract correctly, the property does still belong to you. You can do what you like with it, especially if you make it clear in the contract there are escalating penalties and sanctions for late or non-payment.
Honestly, the idea that you're supposed to just shrug and say "Okay, fine I guess" is a self-defeating unprofessional attitude.
Clients are not doing you a favour by allowing you to work them.
If you sell someone an object, they don't get legal possession until they complete payment for it. (Try to not-pay a house or car loan and see how far you get.)
Software services should be no different. There may be more negotiation involved, especially with a genuinely struggling business with good intentions. But deadbeats are deadbeats. Removal of product or service is completely legal and morally valid.
Re: Show HN: Client not paid? Add opacity to the body
#30I realise this might be somewhat tongue-in-cheek or just a way to vent on some real-life dealings with a client gone awry.
However, even just insinuating actually doing something like this in real life (or giving people ideas for that matter) is at least a tad dodgy if not downright unethical.
Someone having treated you badly in business (as in not having payed you for whatever reason) doesn't give you the moral (much less so the legal) right to treat them badly in return. That's what lawyers and courts are for (well, not treating others badly - though that might very well be part of the process - but to get recourse).