edhew@xenitec.on.ca (Ed Hew) (01/22/91)
I'm posting this for my brother who does not have USENET news access.
Please email all replies directly to him:
fulko@fkhew.uucp
.....uunet!attcan!lsuc!maccs!fkhew!fulko
.....uunet!watmath!maccs!fkhew!fulko
Thanks to all who care to comment.
--
Ed. A. Hew <edhew@xenitec.on.ca>, XeniTec Consulting Services
or if you're really stuck: ..!{watmath|lsuc}!xenitec!eah
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I'm looking for answers from both the legal mind, and those other companies
out there that write software for a living, both stand alone software ie. PC
software, and software for embedded systems. ie. the dashboard of your Buick.
I'm wondering what policies other companies have with respect to having
an individuals name (the person that wrote the software) on the banner message
that appears when a piece of software starts.
Like most companies, when an employee writes a program, the employee does not
own the software, but the company does. The author, and therefore the
patent/copywrite holder is the company. The question is, do you, the other
companies out there, allow the designer/implementor to put a message on the
screen with their name on it?
ie. The ABC spreadsheet program
(c) 1991 Software Wigets Inc.
Written by: Joe Blow
On the side for allowing it:
1/ The creator gets personal recognition,
and therefore a reputation (hopefully a good one).
A good ego boost.
On the down side:
1/ The company may want all customer enquiries to only go through a service
or sales group, and not to the creator. (too many costly interuptions)
2/ After all, the company owns the software and not the individual.
3/ In most circumstances, the company will want to maintain liability, in
the case that something goes wrong with the program. Professional
engineers, otherwise, would have to assume liability. If their name
is visable, could it not create a problem?
4/ OK, so you let the guy put his name on the software.
What happens if it is a group work?
What about the designer, the tester, the ... they all had valuable input
to the the program. What about the guy who fixed the bugs, or makes
version 2? Does he delete all names before him, or just add his to the
growing list. Where does it stop?
5/ Its not professional ;-| ????
My personal opinion:
The individual's name should not appear on the banner.
Buried in the executable... maybe.
In the source code... only if its freeware, or if its never distributed.
What is the rest of the worlds opinion?
Please send your comments to me:
Fulko Hew, (416) 528-8811 x 6225
Engineering Designer,
Innovation & Integration Group, ...!maccs!fkhew!fulko
Information Services Division,
Westinghouse Canada Inc.
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