Intellectual Property question

I have been asked to prepare a feasibility study for an upgrade to a
VB app that uses a SQL server db.

The application is thin client, with about 100 sites connecting via
terminal services. 99% of the processing and business logic is done
using stored procedures.

The application is a highly configured version of an off-the-shelf
product.

The company would like me to quote for redesigning the front end, but
for this to interface to the existing db structure. However, the
original developer regards the database structure, particularly the
stored procedures, as her intellectual property.

Anyone have any idea how I (and the company who have asked me to do
the work) stand legally? Obviously I don't want to get lawyers
involved unless absolutely necessary (for example, if we clearly don't
have a leg to stand on, then there's no point in paying some shyster
300 an hour to tell me what I already know.)

TIA

EdwardIANAL.

What does the contract with the original developer say? Usually you would
expect a software development contract to spell out the IP rights. In my
experience, in the UK, the rights are typically left with the company
developing the software unless the client company requires otherwise.

--
David Portas
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--|||"David Portas" <REMOVE_BEFORE_REPLYING_dportas@.acm.org> wrote in message
news:39-dnXc7sJhTgFaiRVn-sA@.giganews.com...
> IANAL.
> What does the contract with the original developer say? Usually you would
> expect a software development contract to spell out the IP rights. In my
> experience, in the UK, the rights are typically left with the company
> developing the software unless the client company requires otherwise.

I concur. When I do similar work my contracts ALWAYS state the
obvious...either that all resultant work is the property of the customer or
that the software is provided with license TO the customer.

My advice to you would be to higher that 'shyster' to review the contracts,
before you or your customer end up in a lawsuit.

--
BV.
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