Ex 15.10 The reuse of software raises a number of copyright and intellectual property issues. If a customer pays a software contractor to develop a system, who has the right to reuse the developed code? Does the software contractor have the right to use that code as a basis for a generic component? What payment mechanisms might be used to reimburse providers of reusable components? Discuss these issues and other ethical issues associated with the reuse of software.
When in the contract phase the contractor needs to clearly define what his acceptable with the code after they have developed it. It is up to the two parties on how to go about code reuse. It certain circumstances it might be easier for both for the code to serve as a jumping off point for later projects that will not require the contractor. The rights for code reuse should be dictated in the contract.