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Subject:Re: Styles for User Guides From:"Eric L. Dunn" <edunn -at- TRANSPORT -dot- BOMBARDIER -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 6 Apr 1999 12:52:54 -0400
I think the templates used to produce a document are analogous to the jigs
and forms used in industry to manufacture items. Along those lines, I'd
believe they should be treated the same.
If a client asks you to design something (a train for example), the
contract will often state that the object and its design belong to the
client. The manufacturing process behind its production however remains
wholly the property of the manufacturing company. That is unless some form
of technology sharing or transfer has been included in the contract (for an
additional fee). Even then the jigs and forms used still remain in the
hands of the manufacturer, if the client wants copies then contractual
arrangements must be made. If these jigs become useful in the manufacture
of another item then by all means they are used.
This accumulation of tools, aids, and procedures is what gives one
manufacturer the competitive edge over another. This is demonstrated in the
tooling and startup costs that are paid by the client. If one client
contracts for a product and it requires a retooling or setup of the factory
then that client must pay those costs. If another client then tags on an
order, then they may be completely free from paying startup costs. If the
original contract was extremely competitive, or the development may move
the company into other lucrative contracts, the startup costs may be low
balled hoping for subsequent contracts to pay the full cost.
How does this relate? Well, if you have a template in Word or Frame that
will suit the client's needs then you can low ball your competitors by not
charging the client start up costs (the time to create the template). If
the client requires a complex and new solution then they must pay for new
template development. This is after all, time you are devoting to them.
Unless the client is specifying that you supply a template to them at the
of the contract I would even argue that this should be an additional cost.
You are after all providing them with a major part of the tools to put you
out of a job next time they need work done.
None of the above applies to proprietary logos or artwork, that would be a
completely different ball game.
