User caught snagging code

Hello. My company developed a web application used by car dealers and other service providers. We recently had a user contact me via email claiming this particular user, which this person worked with, was snagging code so they could figure out how to do certain things and build their own competing system. Building a competing system, I have no problem with, and even though they were only snagging source code viewed through the browser (nothing special but HTML there), they can of course view how certain processes work and try to figure it out from there. Obviously I have blocked them from access, but I realize there is no real legal issues, or is there? I am a little curious if anyone has ever run across this and how you handled it? We are a small team, with large clients, and of course want to protect everything.

Again, I am just curious if anyone has ever come across this and what legal actions you may have taken? (When I say legal, I dont necessarily mean suing or anything, just not taking any illegal or shady actions against them ).

Oh, the person who notified us also sent us emails from them with attachments of copied browser source code.

 

What does the license say? Stick with your license and you'll be fine.

 

yeah, our license covers it, I was just curious what actions anyone may have taken in the past in these situations.

Thanks for the reply.

 

Not unless you have a Patent on the process. If you are serious about your business and have some proprietary code that is not just bits and pieces of standard open source code, then get a patent lawyer. It will cost you a bundle, that much is for sure. Otherwise, you really have no ground to stand on. Page source code is viewable by anyone and not much you can do. There are javascripts that prevent people from viewing it. How well they work I don't know, but I do know they exist.

That is the problem with Internet. Nothing is protected. Copyrights mean virtually nothing and carry no weight. A Patent, however, is a much more enforceable instrument. Not many patented processes end up on bit torrent networks.

(And trust me... You blocking them means nothing. They can just go through a proxy, so that it useless)

Check with HotScripts and research scripts that protect page source code. They are out there.

 

yup. you can control everything through your terms of service.

 

Well, you could file a patent, and then get an injunction issued by a court against him to keep him from developing any programs like what you're making until the patent is complete. It's a stretch, but, you never know.