title: How do I protect Python code from being read by users?
body: <p>I am developing a piece of software in Python that will be distributed to my employer's customers. My employer wants to limit the usage of the software with a time-restricted license file.</p>
  <p>If we distribute the <code>.py</code> files or even <code>.pyc</code> files it will be easy to (decompile and) remove the code that checks the license file.</p>
  <p>Another aspect is that my employer does not want the code to be read by our customers, fearing that the code may be stolen or at least the &quot;novel ideas&quot;.</p>
  <p>Is there a good way to handle this problem?</p>