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Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

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Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#11

Post by cleaver »

tlrobinson wrote: post #8
dkokelley wrote: post #6

Publicizing your work may be a fun way to 'get back' at an nonpaying client, but is it good for business? Would the professional thing to do be to simply drop work on this client and move on, or is any publicity good publicity for the coder? This is damaging to the client. Yes, they may have deserved it, but will future clients be discouraged by this behavior? Edit : To be clear, I'm not saying the coder was in the w…

On the other hand, it will discourage clients who might not have the ability to pay. The clients who can pay shouldn't have any reason to be worried.

I think you want to discourage them too.

Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#12

Post by simmons »

dkokelley wrote: post #6

Publicizing your work may be a fun way to 'get back' at an nonpaying client, but is it good for business? Would the professional thing to do be to simply drop work on this client and move on, or is any publicity good publicity for the coder? This is damaging to the client. Yes, they may have deserved it, but will future clients be discouraged by this behavior? Edit : To be clear, I'm not saying the coder was in the w…

Why would the nonpaying client, or future potential clients, care what the developer does with his property? If they wanted it, they could have bought it from him. (I'm assuming that the developer didn't sign any IP assignments upfront, or is violating any NDAs or similar agreements about this code.)

If I was a sculptor and a client commissioned me to create a work of art, then didn't want it, surely nobody would fault me for donating the work to a local school instead of destroying it.

Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#14

Post by danielharan »

dkokelley wrote: post #6

Publicizing your work may be a fun way to 'get back' at an nonpaying client, but is it good for business? Would the professional thing to do be to simply drop work on this client and move on, or is any publicity good publicity for the coder? This is damaging to the client. Yes, they may have deserved it, but will future clients be discouraged by this behavior? Edit : To be clear, I'm not saying the coder was in the w…

Great for the coder.

Potential for new contract work - either extending this or creating new work.

Having more code out on github is also a good way to get more employment opportunities.

Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#15

Post by thebigredjay »

byoung2 wrote: post #2

After spending 200+ hours developing the system, not a dime has been seen or given Freelancers should always try to get at least a deposit upfront. When I was freelancing, I would get 100% upfront for projects under $500, 50% upfront for projects between $500 and $2000. For projects over $2000, I would get 25% upfront, and then set milestones with payments attached. I had a $7500 project once where the guy made the f…

Where is a good place to learn the ins and outs of contracts? Is there a comprehensive website or book that you can recommend? I am early in my career and have been on both sides of writing contracts. While I am figuring a lot of things out as I go it would be nice to sit down and wrap my head around this for good.

Also, to the OP, is a few weeks really enough time? If those were 200 billable hours it seems like it's worth a tad more hunting.

Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#16

Post by bmelton »

dkokelley wrote: post #6

Publicizing your work may be a fun way to 'get back' at an nonpaying client, but is it good for business? Would the professional thing to do be to simply drop work on this client and move on, or is any publicity good publicity for the coder? This is damaging to the client. Yes, they may have deserved it, but will future clients be discouraged by this behavior? Edit : To be clear, I'm not saying the coder was in the w…

On the contrary, I would think people would be be quite inclined to commission this developer so that the work would be done, and then they could just leverage the open source version he releases when they don't pay.

Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#17

Post by alok-g »

Does someone know under which license is this released? Could not find this anywhere. Without the license specified, the author still retains the copyright.

Also, assuming this was a work for hire, not sure who the copyright belongs to (the author or the client) given the non-payment.

Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#18

Post by kenneth_reitz »

dkokelley wrote: post #6

Publicizing your work may be a fun way to 'get back' at an nonpaying client, but is it good for business? Would the professional thing to do be to simply drop work on this client and move on, or is any publicity good publicity for the coder? This is damaging to the client. Yes, they may have deserved it, but will future clients be discouraged by this behavior? Edit : To be clear, I'm not saying the coder was in the w…

Debatable that it's bad for the client, since he didn't disclose who the client is.

It sounds to me like the guy was trying to scrape together funding while he was commissioning a developer to work on his "great idea". I was almost caught into a same situation once.

I'm vary wary of anyone who calls himself an entrepreneur.

Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#19

Post by danielharan »

robtoo wrote: post #13

The client wouldn't pay, so he gives it to them for free anyway?

The client likely can't afford to pay anyone to continue (and they should ask for payment upfront now, knowing their reputation).

They probably can't maintain it themselves either.

Re: Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

#20

Post by shaggyfrog »

thebigredjay wrote: post #15
byoung2 wrote: post #2

After spending 200+ hours developing the system, not a dime has been seen or given Freelancers should always try to get at least a deposit upfront. When I was freelancing, I would get 100% upfront for projects under $500, 50% upfront for projects between $500 and $2000. For projects over $2000, I would get 25% upfront, and then set milestones with payments attached. I had a $7500 project once where the guy made the f…

Where is a good place to learn the ins and outs of contracts? Is there a comprehensive website or book that you can recommend? I am early in my career and have been on both sides of writing contracts. While I am figuring a lot of things out as I go it would be nice to sit down and wrap my head around this for good. Also, to the OP, is a few weeks really enough time? If those were 200 billable hours it seems like it's…

> Where is a good place to learn the ins and outs of contracts?

Law school. ;)

Okay, okay. Seriously, besides getting a lawyer and have them draw you up a standard contract, there isn't much you can do to "wrap your head around [contract negotiation] for good" as there's just too much to learn. Some of it comes from experience (you'll start getting a radar for certain kinds of clauses), and there's no quick fix for getting experience besides the passage of time. Specifically, make sure there is a provision in there for getting some of the payment up-front (as grandparent suggests), and specify a late fee % for any overdue bills.

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