On 7 Dec 2002, at 7:43, vampyre(at)bigpond.net.au wrote:

> Just wondering if anyone out there knows of a way to write html code that
> will effectively disable itself after a certain time period?
> 
> Here's my situation... I have made a small web site
> for someone, but I don't exactly trust them to stop
> using it (in the event that I am not paid for the
> work) Is it possible to set a "trial period" so that he
> will no longer be able to access/use it without my
> permission? 

Possibilities depend on the site.

If it has a backend database component, could you 
come up with a way to disable access to the database?

If it requires frequent updating, could you somehow 
disable the ability to update the site?

If it relies on external Javascripts, could you program 
one of those to do a date check and redirect access to 
an appropriate page and/or site after the expiration 
date?

Does the client administer its domain name 
registration, or do you? If it's you, you could effectively 
disable their site (and email, I think) by pointing it to a 
different DNS server or something like that (sorry, these 
are just WAGging ideas!)

Of course, if the client has administrator access to the 
site, you really can't do much to prevent them from 
using it without paying for it. I guess that's what 
attorneys and signed contracts are for ... 

David
dvjones(at)ksbe.edu
 

• Web Designer Courses
• Off the Shelf Training Courses

HWG hwg-techniques mailing list archives, maintained by Webmasters @ IWA