Not paying your bills is not legal, and the designer has a legal option.
Putting a timebomb in the software is also not legal, and probably a criminal offence in some places.
How is a "timebomb" not legal? I think Microsoft call its version of this "Genuine Advantage". And the shareware community calls this a Trial Period.
Things like those should be Illegal.
Not the 'time bomb'/"genuine advantage' but the fact that people lie to you during the sale.
a Trial Period is explicit. Renting is explicity. time bomb and genuine advantage or how microsoft is selling Office at staples nowadays is not! it's criminal and devised to take money out of the likes who still pay AOL on top of Cable for Internet.
that's why when i see microsoft 'selling' office to people that are used to buying office and they do not realize they are 'renting' it for a year, i think it should be illegal.
so basically they are making people believe they are buying office when they are renting it for a year.
Taking someone to small claims court over state lines is not difficult at all. You simply serve the suit by certified mail. However, collecting on the suit, once you win a default judgment, can be difficult.
If it is hidden in the software without telling the client, it's a defect at best.
Edit to add: The nature of the relationship might matter too. There is a difference between a software purchase agreement, and a consulting "work made for hire" contract.
But the concept of a time bomb is that it's hidden and can cause harm at some point.
But in general if you are putting things into the product outside of the contract you must see how this as a legal issue?
Also see why no Easter Eggs -http://blogs.msdn.com/b/larryosterman/archive/2005/10/21/483...