Fire Alarm Panel Codes_Legal Ownership ?

[The Reiver]

This has probably been discussed on numerous occasions. But after a search for "alarm panel codes" I couldn't find anything.

So my question is:

Who legally owns the access codes to Fire Alarm Panels ?

1. Purchaser of system.
2. Manufacturer of system.
3. Installer of system.
4. A.N. Other (that I haven't thought of)

I have it in my head that there was a legal test case regarding the issue.

Any assistance or insight appreciated.

[Mr. P]

Depends on what was in the contract? If you do not specify that ownership must include codes, you can get tied up only being able to use manufacturer, but ownership will likely cost more as servicing/maintenance earnings can be lost.

[Big_Fella]

To look at it from a different perspective: The 'code' the installer could sell is the access level to gain access to the silence/reset buttons etc.

Many companies put a further code in the panel which has access to the programming functionality.  This is a completely different beast, and then potentially ties the user into using them.

Certain other manufacturers, will only license software to approved installers, thus limiting the copmpanies who can work on the system 'through codes' and other manufacturers to obtain the highest level within the panel 'may' require a dongle to access this

[GregC]

4. The person who has the best legal team/most money to play with in court.

Most panels can be defaulted though (not that the manufacturers will admit to it, you just need to know the right person in their technical dept)

Any particular panel in mind?

[Wiz]

In my opinion, unless the owner of the system had previously agreed to the contrary, the owner of the system has all rights to the materials/codes/software (as provided at the date of supply) for any product that he purchases.
Even if he signed these rights away unknowingly, the contract could still be considered to include unfair terms by a court.
I know that we are all aware of times when justice is an 'ass' but the simple fact is a court of law would consider that someone buying something should have access to everything that is required to use that equipment correctly and would be deemed to have these rights upon purchase.
I guess this question arises because a company is witholding access control panel access codes from an owner of a system. I'm pretty sure the owner could win his case in court, but it could be easier and cheaper to try and find out the default codes in some way, as Greg C suggests, or to just replace the control panel!

[Big_Fella]

Just out of interest, what control panel are we talking about, as like previously said, most control panels have a away around this etc.

[The Reiver]

GregC & Big_Fella

PM Sent

[Big_Fella]

Replied with your codes.... Hope it works 

[Allen Higginson]

If it is open protocol then the high level code should be known by whatever competant company is working on it and not necessarily the client/owner.The reason for this (and only in my opinion of course) is to stop people who think they know what they are doing making a horlicks of the system and rendering it inoperative in totally or in part.
Codes for maintenance and codes for configuration should be different (again IMO) so that you can go elswhere for the former.