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Subject:Re: Providing documentation source files From:"Dennis Hays/The Burden Lake Group, Ltd." <dlhays -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 8 Feb 1996 17:08:06 -0500
If I read between the lines correctly, what I "hear" you saying is by giving
the customer the Frame file, you are enabling them to do their own doc and,
therefore, cut you out of the loop and possible $$s. This subject often
comes up with photographers; especially wedding photographers. Otherwise,
why would the customer want the source if not to maintain their doc?
You may not be able to dissuade a determined customer, but you can price the
source so it both acts as a deterrent and, should the customer choose to
purchase, provide revenue to your company. So, if you charge US$1.98 for a
complete set of hard copy and ps file docs, what's the source worth?
I think if you do sell them the source you can be pretty certain you will
not get the maintenance business. In fact, when pricing the source, I would
count on not hearing from that customer for repeat business, for they more
than likely feel they can write and maintain their doc without you.
I would charge ORIGINAL DOC X 5 to transfer the copyright and give them the
source Frame files. But that's my opinion.
Dennis Hays
The Burden Lake Group, Ltd.
dlhays -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com
-----------------------------------------
Write with fire, cut with ice.
At 12:20 PM 02/07/1996 -0600, you wrote:
>Karen Gwynn/Datatel wrote:
>>
>>
>> Anyway, we now have a request for our FrameMaker source files. The client
>> making this request wants to take the move to online doc a step further
and use
>> tools that require the source, and not PostScript. The issue here,
however, is
>> whether or not we should just give away the documentation in this format.
>> Karen Gwynn, Senior Documentation Specialist
>> Datatel, Inc.
>> 703/968-4556
>> e-mail kwg -at- datatel -dot- com
