Software Escrow Administration made simple.

Most of today's software license agreements where companies purchase software, also include requests that along with the software, a proof copy of the developers source code be also included. Source code, is of course, the human-readable version of the software program, including notations and documentation detailing how the program is put together.

Source Codes are generally requested by beneficiaries simply for their own protection. With access to the source code, they can retain purchased rights while maintaining a working relationship with the original developer.

Why Developers Worry

To a lot of developers, supplying a copy of their source code to the their beneficiaries is simply not desired. If they supply their code, it is thought, a large portion of their grip on the soveriegnity of the code would be perceived to be lost. More importantly, if their code is supplied in the purchase, the developers fear that a competent computer programmer, either an independent contractor acting on behalf of the beneficiary, or another third party, could change the present program undesirably and/or develop a competing program.

How Using a Software Escrow Helps

Source codes structure typically becomes inherited and maintained by the beneficiary party, for the simple reason that they are the ones that must typically deal with the software day in, day out. With access on the source code, they can retain flexibility for future developments, as well as have a guarantee in case the original developer becomes insolvent.