Protecting code of cookie cutter web sites

Rails
1

I want to develop code for web sites that I want to sell into a niche
market.

So how can I protect the RoR code?

So let’s say that I have two websites: www.sample-x.com and
www.sample-y.com

www.sample-x.com and www.sample-y.com both run identical Ruby code but
present very different HTML because of user-settable configuration
files.

I haven’t started coding yet so I am looking for recommendations.

Ralph S.

2

On 9 April 2012 15:44, Ralph S. [email protected] wrote:

I want to develop code for web sites that I want to sell into a niche market.

So how can I protect the RoR code?

So let’s say that I have two websites: www.sample-x.com and www.sample-y.com

www.sample-x.com and www.sample-y.com both run identical Ruby code but present
very different HTML because of user-settable configuration files.

Who are you trying to stop from seeing the code? The RoR code is not
visible through the browser.

Colin

For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en.

–
gplus.to/clanlaw

3

Hi Ralph,

On Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Ralph S. [email protected] wrote:

So how can I protect the RoR code?

The only real protection available for software today, whether it’s
fully visible as in RoR or compiled, is via licensing. Read the
license on pretty much any piece of packaged software you’ve bought in
the last 15 years and you’ll see that you agree by opening the package
not to reverse-engineer or assist anyone else in reverse-engineering
or to use knowledge gained by using the product to develop a competing
product, etc…

The way this works in the US market is based on what’s called, iirc,
‘primacy of claims.’ (I am not a lawyer, but recommend that you get
yourself one if you’re really concerned about this). Business
contracts have a higher priority in our courts than patent, copyright,
or other IP. The really good news for software developers is that
violations of business contracts are much easier and cheaper to both
create and prosecute than IP violations. You don’t have to prove they
stole your code. You just have to show they violated the contract.

Get yourself a good business contract lawyer.

HTH,
Bill

4

Colin,

Monday, April 9, 2012, 8:54:21 AM, you wrote:

CL> On 9 April 2012 15:44, Ralph S. [email protected] wrote:

I want to develop code for web sites that I want to sell into a niche market.

So how can I protect the RoR code?

So let’s say that I have two websites: www.sample-x.com and www.sample-y.com

www.sample-x.com and www.sample-y.com both run identical Ruby code but present
very different HTML because of user-settable configuration files.

CL> Who are you trying to stop from seeing the code? The RoR code is
not
CL> visible through the browser.

CL> Colin

I want the owner of the website not to be able to see the code.

Ralph S.

5

Don’t sell the website, sell the service. Charge XX per month, automate
the
hosting aspect of it (you can easily do this with heroku for example).
Take
a look at shopify.com.

6

Hi Ralph,

On Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 11:16 AM, Ralph S. [email protected]
wrote:

Now is there a technological way rather than a legal way to protect code?

Other than a SaaS offering, I do not know of, and am unable to
imagine, one. Once the code is out of your physical control, the only
real protection is contractual. Don’t think in terms of protecting
your code. Think in terms of protecting your business.

Best regards,
Bill

7

Bill,

Monday, April 9, 2012, 9:07:27 AM, you wrote:

BW> Hi Ralph,

BW> On Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Ralph S. [email protected]
wrote:

So how can I protect the RoR code?

BW> The only real protection available for software today, whether it’s
BW> fully visible as in RoR or compiled, is via licensing. Read the
BW> license on pretty much any piece of packaged software you’ve bought
in
BW> the last 15 years and you’ll see that you agree by opening the
package
BW> not to reverse-engineer or assist anyone else in reverse-engineering
BW> or to use knowledge gained by using the product to develop a
competing
BW> product, etc…

BW> The way this works in the US market is based on what’s called, iirc,
BW> ‘primacy of claims.’ (I am not a lawyer, but recommend that you get
BW> yourself one if you’re really concerned about this). Business
BW> contracts have a higher priority in our courts than patent,
copyright,
BW> or other IP. The really good news for software developers is that
BW> violations of business contracts are much easier and cheaper to
both
BW> create and prosecute than IP violations. You don’t have to prove
they
BW> stole your code. You just have to show they violated the contract.

BW> Get yourself a good business contract lawyer.

BW> HTH,
BW> Bill

Contracts are as good as the people who sign them.

Now is there a technological way rather than a legal way to protect
code?

Can I write a web service that all these web sites (with different
domain names) would have to get their stuff from?