Forum Discussion
Client wants .story (unpublished files) - do they need this?
Nancy Woinoski said:
I also give the source files to my clients. As Harri says, they paid for the work. It is in the best interest of the client to get the files whether they have Storyline or not because it protects them down the road should something happen to the original developer.
YMMV, but ethically I believe this is an essential right for the client.
When you buy a painting or a book, do you buy the right to reproduce it? No. Basically, you have purchased a license to use the physical object. The copyright is still held by the artist or author. Even though a building owner may purchase the services of an architect and receive a copy of the design drawings for the purpose of maintaining the building, the owner does not have the right to sell those drawings to another owner to reproduce the same building. It is NOT an essential right of the client to own the materials created during intermediate steps towards a finished outcome. It is a business decision that you are making to surrender copyright to keep a client happy.