What to require so your software's code is really yours
By Neurtul Team · Published · Updated
Owning the code is not a sales line: it is a verifiable handover. Require the repository with all the source code, accounts and access in your company's name, documentation to install and run it, and a contract stating in writing which rights are assigned to you.
The checklist
1. Repository with the complete source code, transferred to an account owned by your company.
2. Hosting, domain, database and third-party service accounts in your company's name, with access handed over in a signed record.
3. Installation, operation and code documentation, so another team can take over.
4. A contract assigning the economic rights on what was built for you, and a list of third-party or open-source components with their licenses. Review it with your lawyer.
5. Your data exportable in open formats at any time.
Red flags
The vendor keeping the only copy of the code, accounts staying in the vendor's name, no documentation, or a contract that only grants a license to use.
How Neurtul hands it over
At the end of implementation we hand over the code, the transferred accounts and access, with installation, operation and code documentation. Implementation runs until the full process works with its roles, followed by 2 months of support.