Dave In general I agree with you. The algorithms can be copied. The catch here is that only parties that would be interested in my algorithms are large insurance carriers with deep pockets. Concurrent with writing this program, I'm also serving as an expert witness for a very large insurance company who is alleging intellectual property theft by a competitor. Millions of dollars are at stake. And a large portion of the intellectual property at issue are a series of spreadsheets I developed in the 90's. I didnt think the stuff I did in the 90's was all that clever or unique, so I didnt do anything to protect what I was doing. Now 15 years later, there is this big lawsuit and I can see now what I could have done to make my clients case stronger. So, this legal case has made me more cautious...I know I cant prevent copying, I just want anyone who does copy or steal the program to do so with clear knowledge of the potential liability associated with such acts. And hey if they do steal my work again, I'll be flattered and then let the attorneys handle everything.
Thanks for your input. Michael Hayes On Jun 14, 9:06 am, Dave Bonallack <davebonall...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Hi Michael,If you want to stop people copying your algorithms, then Excel is > not the platform to use. Its security is about as good as wet tissue paper; > Excel 2007 being slightly better, as good as dry tissue paper.The advantage > of using Excel is that you can design a workbook that meets very specific > needs, and so is often not useful to another user with slightly different > needs. My advice: if you are being paid to produce the current workbook, take > the money for your work, keep a copy of your algorithms for another day, and > move on to your next Excel project.Regards from Brasil - Dave > > > > > > > Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:48:50 -0700 > > Subject: $$Excel-Macros$$ Legal Notice/Splash Screen > > From: m99pan...@gmail.com > > To: excel-macros@googlegroups.com > > > Good Afternoon to all, > > > I'm developing a spreadsheet to calculate insurance rates for a large > > client. Within the spreadsheet are some highly proprietary algorithms > > that I developed that describe the relationships between costs and > > "richness" of benefits.My client believes this spreadsheet/program > > will have some definite commercial value upon completion. So basically > > I need to think about intellectual property protection. Therefore I > > have two questions: > > > Any advice on the simplest way to provide some degree of intellectual > > property protection on a spreadsheet or the algorithms within the > > spreadsheet? > > Any way to create a "splash screen" or some legal notice that pops up > > whenever the program is opened? And the user cant continue without > > acknowledging the notice? > > > Thanks > > > Michael Hayes > > > -- > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > ------- > > Some important links for excel users: > > 1. Follow us on TWITTER for tips tricks and links > > :http://twitter.com/exceldailytip > > 2. Join our LinkedIN group @http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1871310 > > 3. Excel tutorials athttp://www.excel-macros.blogspot.com > > 4. Learn VBA Macros athttp://www.quickvba.blogspot.com > > 5. Excel Tips and Tricks athttp://exceldailytip.blogspot.com > > > To post to this group, send email to excel-macros@googlegroups.com > > > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > > HELP US GROW !! > > > We reach over 7000 subscribers worldwide and receive many nice notes about > > the learning and support from the group.Let friends and co-workers know > > they can subscribe to group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/excel-macros/subscribe > > _________________________________________________________________ > View photos of singles in your area! Looking for a hot > date?http://clk.atdmt.com/NMN/go/150855801/direct/01/ -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some important links for excel users: 1. Follow us on TWITTER for tips tricks and links : http://twitter.com/exceldailytip 2. Join our LinkedIN group @ http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1871310 3. Excel tutorials at http://www.excel-macros.blogspot.com 4. Learn VBA Macros at http://www.quickvba.blogspot.com 5. Excel Tips and Tricks at http://exceldailytip.blogspot.com To post to this group, send email to excel-macros@googlegroups.com <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> HELP US GROW !! We reach over 7000 subscribers worldwide and receive many nice notes about the learning and support from the group.Let friends and co-workers know they can subscribe to group at http://groups.google.com/group/excel-macros/subscribe
