I'm no expert in IP or anything, but seeing how more and more code is being moved out into the open (ie OpenSource) and that big companies still make lots of money from that code, I would be asking why obfuscate?
It's like all these amazing startup ideas out there, and how you come across people who won't share their amazing idea and make you sign NDAs. Stealing someone's idea does not produce a fantastic business. Fantastic businesses live in the execution, not the implementation. Google was not the first search engine. Everything I know as a developer has pretty much come from me reading someone else's code and then implementing it in my own manner. How many developers can actually code right now without using a search engine? And if they could, would you really want them to?? Having to solve a problem on your own, when someone else has already solved it and shared their solution for all to see is how we have come to where we are in software development. Now I'm not saying one should not obfuscate your code, but there are many alternatives to keeping your IP out of the hands of your competition. Services in the cloud springs to mind. They can only see your APIs (if they are open) and with some security, event that can be restricted. If your algorithm is so fantastic that it needs to be hidden from your competitors then well done, you have something worth protecting. I dare say (given that I have never obfuscated in my entire life - intentionally, anyway haha) that this requirement is so niche that it does actually deserve a big price tag. If you need it, you really really need it and would be ok with paying for it. $15700 seems like a small price tag to me. Definitely not something I can afford, and definitely do not need. I've known some developers over the years that could be described as an obfuscator. No one can understand what they wrote. I hope I'm not one of them, but sometimes I wonder, when I come back and ready my code at a later date. I would cost you a lot more than $15700 for three years though. Haha. cheers, Stephen ________________________________ From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com> on behalf of Nick Randolph <n...@builttoroam.com> Sent: Thursday, 1 October 2020 8:13 AM To: ozDotNet <ozdotnet@ozdotnet.com> Subject: RE: Dotfuscating I’d suggest a couple of points on this: * Dotfuscator has been around a long time, so you’d imagine that for them to still be in business their produce must be reasonable and that companies are indeed willing to pay. * Suggesting that you could just re-write an equivalent for $15700 is just ridiculous. Could you create something that obfuscator some basic things, sure. I could then spend less than that reverse engineering your obfuscation. There’s nothing trivial about good obfuscation. * Lastly, and I think this is the reason why I think they charge so much – they probably need to have a fair bit of legal protection and insurance. They’re offering a product that’s designed to protect the IP of others….. if I were a betting man, this is not something I would undertake unless I knew there was no way that I couldn’t be sued if someone managed to extract the IP, or that I had enough insurance to cover any legal claim. Nick Randolph | Built to Roam Pty Ltd | Co-Founder, Technical Director | +61 412 413 425 | 1300 613 140 | www.builttoroam.com<https://www.builttoroam.com/> The information contained in this email is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not disclose or use the information in this email in any way. Built to Roam Pty Ltd does not guarantee the integrity of any emails or attached files. The views or opinions expressed are the author's own and may not reflect the views or opinions of Built to Roam Pty Ltd. From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com> On Behalf Of Greg Keogh Sent: Thursday, 1 October 2020 8:17 AM To: ozDotNet <ozdotnet@ozdotnet.com> Subject: Re: Dotfuscating My guess is that for $15700 upfront payment, you’d get a pretty reasonable obfuscator written for you at present. Pretty reasonable, you'd hope so! The guy replied already to say he appreciated my candor and suggested there are cheaper simpler alternatives, but said many customers had come to them due to dissatisfaction with the alternatives (he would say that). He also pointed out that some of their customers include Microsoft, NATO, CERN, Wells Fargo and World Bank, which is pretty impressive, but maybe that's why they've forgotten about a price-tier for a couple of blokes in the suburbs who haven't got the budget of NATO. GK
