Purchased encoded scripts and worried about changes

Any feedback is appreciated

[eaglepi]

I purchased a "program" ( collection of php scripts) and found out later that some of the php files have been scrambled so they are unreadable. The program requires you to run Zend Optimizer on the server for these scripts to work.

My problem is, If this company or person was to go away, either by company failure or death (God forbid) I would have a bunch of scripts with no way for someone else to be able to read them. I have no intention of trying to rip the code off, I did pay $350 for it but I would like to be able to feel comfortable that now that I bought it I can use it even if for some reason the company I bought it from is no longer around... Does anyone have any advice

[jatar_k]

well, the script wont stop working if the other company goes away but you will not be able to customize the script.

I think your only recourse would be to request source from them but if they encoded them in the first place I would say they wouldn't give it to you. Why do you need the source so badly? It makes p[erfect sense for programmers to want to protect their intellectual property.

You dont get the source code for office if you purchase it.

[ShawnR]

My view is that it depends on what you purchased. If it was advertised as an application, then you purchased the right to use it as is, not change it (whether to fix bugs or customise). If it was advertised as a collection of scripts which can be used to perform xxx, then you'd reasonably expect that you purchased the right to the source so that you can customise them to suite your own purpose.

Shawn