What would be the best option to prevent source code stealing?

[queen raft]

Recently on the company I work, we had a problem with a client that broke contract with us.

The problem is that for this client specifically, the source code was deployed in the client's server instead of our own. With the result of this, the client took all the source code to themselves and ghosted us after that (Our contracts explicitly state that the source code is our property and in case of a contract break, the client would have to buy the source code).

With that in mind, is there some sort of backdoor protection or anything similar that exists in Laravel or anyone implemented a package for this?

What would be the solution you guys would use to protect yourselves from such situations?

[lone tangle]

I dont think it is common to do that so I don't have any recommendations right off the bat. Curious to see what others have to say.

What my solution would be is: if you don't want them to steal it, don't give it to them. If your company is unwilling to sue them (since your source code is licensed and there is a contract clause requiring them to buy the source code), then just don't host your code in their machines

maybe there is something like obfuscating your code or maybe having a PHAR file? but that sounds like too much headache. Either you have a strong license and enforce it or you just host it yourself

[severe bolt]

Pursue legal actions. That's what the contract is for.

[queen raft]

We are!

But my team was asked to come up with something to try to prevent this, so legal action is not necessary (not mandatory)