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Protecting Intellectual Property - Apex Code/S-Controls
If I build an App on Force.com, my understanding is that the code is visible to anyone who downloads the application.
Any way of protecting the IP you create?
Any way of protecting the IP you create?
Correct with current release. What is happening on this depends on what code you are talking about:
Scontrols and JavaScript will never be IPR protected. Isn't possible with scripted languages on browsers. Try using a JavaScript obsfucator for a partial solution.
Apex Code (as I understand it) will be IPR protected when Salesforce give us the means to ship it via the AppExchange. The end user will see the public API - but not the code source. We await the release to see the details......
So can a managed package today protect IP ?
Apex Code can be installed into Unlimited Edition and Enterprise Edition with Power Pack because they both permit code authoring (like a developer account). It is installed using Ant or Eclipse - not AppExchange. Code cannot be transfered through AppExchange yet (Time Off Manager being an exception). So for now the Apex Code is visible to the end user. We believe the AppExchange code will have to be managed and code will be hidden from the end user - but we are awaiting the details.
I don't think we can expect GA of VF before summer 2008. Nothing definative on this has come from sfdc. A lot of people are keen to use it asap.
Being able to bundle into AppExchange apps is a different thing. That often lags 1-2 seasons behind GA.