Title: Protect source code
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Protect source code

 *  [ctpweb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ctpweb/)
 * (@ctpweb)
 * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/)
 * Hi,
 * I have a website developed for a client that is running on my hosting. Now the
   client wants me to move the site to his hosting. Is there any way I can protect
   the source code so he doesn’t have access to it?
 * Thanks!

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

 *  [WP Libra](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpbum/)
 * (@wpbum)
 * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/#post-4809114)
 * Most likely not. What exactly are you trying to protect?
 *  Thread Starter [ctpweb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ctpweb/)
 * (@ctpweb)
 * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/#post-4809119)
 * If it’s not possible, I would like to explain why the customer has to pay some
   sort of copyright fee to get access to the source code.
 *  [WP Libra](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpbum/)
 * (@wpbum)
 * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/#post-4809125)
 * Most of the time when someone pays you to make something they generally get the
   source code too.
 * What exactly are you trying to protect? Mostly anything can be duplicated without
   source code anyway.
 *  Moderator [Jan Dembowski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdembowski/)
 * (@jdembowski)
 * Forum Moderator and Brute Squad
 * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/#post-4809127)
 * > If it’s not possible, I would like to explain why the customer has to pay some
   > sort of copyright fee to get access to the source code.
 * _*Drinks more coffee*_
 * It’s not actually possible and you’re _really_ asking in the wrong place.
 * WordPress is licensed via the [GPL](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html).
   That means the source code is all opened, available, and anyone can read it that
   has the access to do it. That means your client can look at and modify the code
   as they wish.
 * So you can see why your question on “Protect source code” is contrary to the 
   [WordPress philosophy](http://wordpress.org/about/philosophy/). 😉
 * If you are trying to protect the HTML, js or CSS output that the browser receives
   then that may be achievable but in reality it never works.
 *  Thread Starter [ctpweb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ctpweb/)
 * (@ctpweb)
 * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/#post-4809131)
 * I get your point 🙂 I’m not trying to protect the standard wordpress code, but
   I built the theme, the website. If I give my client the possibility to change
   everything, I’m worried that if things are broken, he can refer to me and claim
   that it’s my fault. So it more a matter of protecting myself 😀
 *  [Dave Naylor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpranger/)
 * (@wpranger)
 * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/#post-4809134)
 * Use version control such as git. Provide the client with a zipped copy of your
   work that matches the final commit. Get him to sign off that this is the work
   you provided.
 * If the client changes something and does as you say, falsely claims any subsequent
   errors are your fault, you can compare the live site with your version controlled
   copy.
 *  Thread Starter [ctpweb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ctpweb/)
 * (@ctpweb)
 * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/#post-4809141)
 * thanks mate, that’s it!

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

The topic ‘Protect source code’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [source-code](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/source-code/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 7 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [ctpweb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ctpweb/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/protect-source-code/#post-4809141)
 * Status: not resolved

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