Programmer not sharing source code
Wow, Haven't been in this forum section in years, used to be really bustling! Where is everyone? :confused: Well, here it goes.
I have a freelancing design firm and a programmer who does my database/programming work (PHP+mysql). We've developed several e-commerce sites throughout the years but our relationship is eroding and this one case in point highlights why.
He developed a class calendar for a tech school, it works fine, he was paid, so far so good. But, the other day they requested the source php files as they now have a partner who can modify the php themselves, no longer needing to outsource this. My programmer scrambles all his scripts so no one can copy them.
So, the question is, should he ethically hand over his scripts which he claims took so long to build, or was the customer only paying for the online application (which he has fulfilled?) We don't have anything in writing or in our contract specifying this, and I feel he's trying to ruin my relationship with the customer (he gets burned, well so will I).
Thanks in advance.