Trusting a Coder

[Quicksilver]

Hey everyone. Recently I just thought of an interesting and unique idea for a website. At the moment im cautious of giving away the idea to a coder and was wondering if you guys have ever had your ideas stolen in the past before? What should I do to avoid this happening myself? Thanks and I look forward to your responses.

[jeremy]

if it's that important to you, you should either work with a coder you know and trust, or hire a lawyer to write up an nda/non-compete for you.

[Joshimitsu]

Well, when i take up coding work. I've seen some good ideas, but i would never steal any. I just doubt many coders would do that, we have morals. Check out their portfolio?

Although, its best to know the coder. Or have past experiences by yourself or friends

[Gareth]

If the coder is a reputable guy/girl, he won't do anything like that. If you have any doubts, do a little research on the person you are hiring.

[[ed]]

I would highly recommend using an non-disclosure agreement unless you've done work with them in the past and trust them. There are too many bad apples out there that will run off with your good idea.

[Quicksilver]

Thanks for all your advice guys!

[moojj]

As pointed out, go with a non-disclosure agreement. It doesn't necessarily stop them from telling people, but in the event that they do you are entitled to compensation.

I've worked on many projects that require NDA's. One of my clients was for a company that develops software for the education system in the UK. I was required to sign an NDA before they even gave me the specifications. The NDA is still in effect to this day. I can only release information about the project that has been publicly released by them.

If you want a copy of an official NDA or you need the site developed by development team who will keep your idea a secret, feel free to PM me and we can discuss it further.

[L146705]

hi, I have had problems with coders reselling code that I have paid them to do to other clients. using a nda is the best option but even this isn't safe. Thats one of the problems with hiring coders.

[moojj]

In those situations you want to make sure you are protected by drafting up an IP agreement (there are plenty of firms that can do this, although it can be quite pricey) - or at the very least, agree with the developer that you wish to have exclusivity to the code.

At the end of the day it all relies on how much you want to protect your idea. If you have the best idea in the world you would probably want to get some lawyers to draft up IP patents (although these can be a little tricky), this will also protect you from copy-cats once the site has been launched.

My advice: If you think your idea is worth a lot of money, then protect it.

[aloksingh]

I never use coders for my website. I always code it myself. I have always thought that if you want a job done good, you have to do it yourself. If your website requires some serious programming, then maybe you should consult some lawyer for more information.

[Submerge]

I'd say simply to check their portfolio. Do they look professional and truthful. Also, maybe have certain coders do different parts so thy don't know the overall concept, but that could be hard to manage.