Mark,
If you put a kill feature in the program that damages the client's business, you may be on the hook for substantial damages. This may be true even if the kill feature is explained in your written agreement.
If the client has not paid an installment, he is still entitled to the parts of the program he has paid for, and if you deny him access to those parts (even though he also gets access to the unpaid-for parts), a court will probably be a very unhappy.
I'd be a little careful here, especially in Texas. There are much less risky ways of getting paid.
Take a look at my article "Software Development Agreements" in the KB.
Regards,
Jim E.
Jim Edgar
Jurix Data Corporation
jmedgar@yahoo.comNo trees were destroyed in sending this message. However, a large number of electrons were diverted from their ordinary activities and terribly inconvenienced.
