So Who Owns The Code?

Discussing Control Programming
and User Interface Design
Intellectual Property Rights

AMX recognizes both sides of this highly debated issue. On one hand, Integrators may be afraid of relinquishing intellectual property or custom programming code out of fear that end users will either try to modify the code on their own, or worse, take the code to a different Integrator.

(image courtesy of System Contractor News)

On the other hand, end users may have the anxiety associated with the possibility that their Integrator may cease communication or go out of business. And when considering the size of the typical control/automation technology investment that end users are making, their anxiety is justified.

AMX, like all manufacturers, purchases custom products and services containing intellectual property regularly. Our standard practice is to assume one of the following options:

1) AMX may choose to leave the intellectual property rights with the author and only pay for the rights to use said property,

2) AMX may choose to place the intellectual property in escrow with the understanding that if the author defaults, AMX defaults or the relationship is mutually dissolved, the intellectual property rights are relinquished or procured respectively, or

3) AMX may choose to purchase the property rights outright by paying a nominal amount in addition to the quote for development of said property.

One fundamental way to reduce the fear/risk and anxiety for both Integrators and end users while ensuring a healthy, professional relationship is for Integrators to offer monthly service contracts in every customer proposal. AMX believes there is no single better way to maintain a positive customer relationship than by offering guaranteed support.

The best thing about the AMX approach to intellectual property
is that the issue of intellectual property is:

1) communicated up front in the proposal which illustrates the Integrator ’s professionalism,

2) a decision that is placed in the hands of the end user, and

3) a great way to reduce the end users anxiety while giving Integrators the opportunity to generate recurring revenue.

Read More in System Contractor News

Jeff Kindig, AMX Vice President, Marketing Strategy was recently interviewed in the November 2009 issue of System Contractor News to discuss AMX' position. Read the article and learn more about this interesting topic.