What is a primary benefit of implementing a source code escrow agreement?

A primary benefit of implementing a source code escrow agreement is to protect against vendor bankruptcy. Such an agreement allows a company to deposit the source code of software with a third-party escrow service, which keeps the source code safe and secure until certain predefined conditions are met, such as the vendor going out of business or failing to meet maintenance commitments.

In the event of the vendor's bankruptcy, the company can access the source code to continue using, maintaining, and potentially enhancing the software without being wholly dependent on the vendor. This ensures business continuity and mitigates the risk of operational disruption that could occur if the vendor were to cease operations.

While other options touch on aspects related to software management or vendor relationships, they do not specifically address the critical risk that an escrow agreement aims to mitigate: the uncertainty tied to the financial stability of the vendor. This makes the protection against vendor bankruptcy the most pertinent and well-defined advantage of having a source code escrow agreement.