Website - ownership of source code

[Kai_63]

I’m currently looking at some web agencies to create an ecommerce site for me. Both the agencies say they will use their own bespoke system and source code to create the site (as opposed to a recognised open source system such as Magento). My concern is that if once they’ve built the site I decide to use a new agency to continue development in future, the new agency won’t be able to work with their bespoke coding.

The first agency said they’d be willing to sell me the source code for a further 50% cost of the original site build. The second agency have said they’d only give the relevant section of the code (e.g. if an update is to the product pages, they’d only give the code that was relevant for that area) but couldn’t give the base source code for the overall site (I hope this makes sense).

Anyway my question is, is this normal practice for agencies? It seems strange that they’d own source code for my business’ website.

Any tips or advice would be welcome.

Thanks

[pickaweb]

I would get it done using an existing solution rather than depending on them. Eg: Magento, oscommerce.

[consultant]

I am not sure about what agencies do, but if I, or my represenative did not at least have the right to change my own website as and when i saw fit, then i would not go near them.

It is a sign of a company who wants to tie you to them, so they can keep charging you!

On the whole, I understand that this is a business model that has worked in the past, but, I feel it is becoming dated!

There is no issue in them owning and restricting their own code, but they should just quote you a total price, but to be fair, not everyone will want manage/edit their own site.

Be blunt with them - they can have the business if you have full ownership of the cms/site! If they say no, move on!

[Kai_63]

Thanks for the replies so far - my thoughts exactly!

The funny thing is, I'm finding it harder to find a good agency to create the site using existing systems. If there are any web developers out there with a proven track record of building ecommerce sites with CMS systems do get in touch!

Thanks

[MartCactus]

There is a difference between owning the code, and having a license to use it.

For example, if we build a job board for someone using our job board software then they have the full source code of it. Our license permits them to modify the code, or to hire someone else to do that.

However it doesn't permit them to take the code and then install it on more sites - they need to license the code for each site. Similarly they can't take the code and resell it.

So they don't have copyright to the code, they have a license to use it (if we game them copyright we'd be violating it when we setup other clients sites with the code). But in our case this license DOES give them access to the source code, and does enable them to edit it themselves.

Similarly if I buy a PC with windows or Mac OS installed on it - I'm not buying the copyright of the software (it remains with MS or Apple) - I'm buying a license to have it installed on one machine. Though in the case of these systems they don't give source code.

You would be wise to ensure you have access to the source code AND permission to modify it - without that you could be held to ransom by your developer, and in trouble if they go bust.

[pickaweb]

Try finding someone through odesk.com

[edmondscommerce]

I would avoid bespoke ecommerce package like the plague

The quality can be very variable. It is incredibly unlikely to be anywhere near as good as Magento.

[sanjiv]

I would steer clear of them. I give my clients access to the source code or use an out of the box solution. What happens if they go bust or the person who worked on your website has left them, making a small change would mean having to have the whole site redone. Good out of the box solutions are Magento and my personal favourite CRE Loaded.

[JoomGuru]

I would agree with the posters above who say avoid. In fact only 9% or less of websites are built using bespoke software these days and the fact is Joomla, Magento, or Zencart or a variety of others being open source will not only provide you with a versatile and complete solution, you will also be able to hack it to create personal tweaks and it will still transport to any other hosting solution and that means you are not beholden to anyone for your website.

The other thing is that there are many developers out there who operate exclusively or dominantly in these products so, you will always be able to buy the help you need and own the solution at the end of it.

Good luck

[RedEvo]

I've come across many agencies who think they are being clever by building their own CMS so that can put "Powered by Ego Maniacs" at the bottom. I pity their clients.

Custom software has its part to play, reinventing the wheel is for *******.

d

[Page]

There was a great article and then follow up articles in PC Pro about a month or two ago explaining it all from the developers side and all the kick on problems/

It might well be on their website.