Hi Researchers.

I need to know what is the law regarding a Programmer who developed a
customized software for a company, while he was there on contract as a
self-employed person. There was no contract and no P/O he was just
working on request of the company and sent a time sheet with an
invoice and got paid by the hour, for the time spent at the customer.
Now the question is who owns the source code, the Customer/Company or
the individual who developed it.
The question is in Quebec Canada, but if you cannot find specifical
for canada, the US law will do.

I'll be giving a tip for the real answer.

Thans in advance.

There's a pretty good discussion of this issue under US law at
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=549456

Under US law, the programmer owns the copyright to the source code on
the facts you stated.

Thanks for the link, can you show me a link the source of that law, so
i can dig in finding exactly my case, because in that thread it's an
LLC and not exactly the self employed freelancer like in my case.

Thanks 
Anyways

Doesn't matter--exactly the same analysis.  In your question you say
that there is a "company" and a "Programmer/self-employed freelancer."
  In the other question there was an "LLC" and a "developer."  These
are exactly the same roles under US law.  On your facts, the
self-employed freelancer owns the code--it doesn't matter if the
"company" is an LLC, a corporation, or your Aunt Gertrude.

That other question has links and law in it, so not sure what is missing . . .

Besides, you realize comments are free, right?