I'm a software developer, wishing to sell some of my source code to an interested party.

The inherent problem with selling this sort of intellectual property is that neither party is able to receive sufficient guarantee before committing.

From the seller's point of view, merchandise sent first:

• Upon receipt of the code for evaluation, the buyer could 'change his mind' yet still retain a copy to use at his pleasure
• Copyright violation would be undetectable
• In this case at least, legal action would cost more than the value of the transaction

From the buyer's point of view, payment sent first:

• The code could contain deficiencies, ranging in any number and level of severity
• The seller could refuse refund or simply not send the goods in the first place
• In this case at least, legal action would cost more than the value of the transaction

I'll be appreciative of any suggestions toward resolving this dilemma.

Continuing: I'm considering using Armory's LockBox feature to facilitate the transaction. I have some preliminary questions:

• If the seller acts as the organizer, creating a 2x3 LockBox with a two-wallet combination under his own control, does the buyer retain his protections?
• Once the buyer commits funds to the LockBox, can they be extracted without separate permission from each party?
• If the transaction is split, with final remittance occurring after a year, what backup measures should each party take in the meantime?

Advice and assistance is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska