Hello, I am writing a rather extensive billing system script and I was wondering if I could create a converter (aka WHMCS database to MYSCRIPT). So that my clients could easily transfer all of their client data over to my script. Since I wouldn't actually be stealing any code from WHMCS and I would only be copying data out of a database created by their script I'm wondering if this would raise any legal problems. After all it is the website owners data, WHMCS is using MYSQL to store the data (which is open source) and thus the data contained in side should also be open source (or atleast owned by the website owner) Summary: Is a WHMCS database to MYSCRIPT database converter illegal or would it cause any legal problems?
You'd have nothing to worry about. It's the customer's data in a database. The only thing I'd do, which is more of a technical thing, is to make sure your system does not delete the data it is copying from the original database unless. 1. The owner consents and is fully aware (i.e. it isn't hidden somewhere in the small print - make it clear and bold if it does) 2. It doesn't delete it (even with the owners consent) until they can confirm it is working. I've seen too many disasters when people "copy" data.
Yeah, thanks... When I write code I tend to do what you suggest simply because some people aren't too bright and servers tend to make mistakes...
i see no problems here, you are free to copy the customers data. It's how all other Scripts do it. They import data to convert into their script's format.
What would the legal issue be that concerns you? From what I see there isn't one since you're not using any code, just converting one format of customer owned data into another format.