I work as a software engineer, but in my free time outside of work I have been developing a web app. Do I need to be concerned about my employer trying to claim ownership of it if it every gets popular?
2007-05-23 16:36:42 · 6 answers · asked by ninja500000 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
No, unless you are doing it on employer's time and equipment.
2007-05-23 17:30:08 · answer #1 · answered by NC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most companies that deal with intellectual property such as software have non-disclosure clauses in their employment contracts, which mean that you can't spread company secrets, but only a few have clauses that claim ownership of anything you create outside of work.
Your employment contract will contain all the information you need, and a you should probably have a copyright lawyer read it over before you publish anything.
2007-05-23 16:45:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, double check your work rules and contract, if you have one. Anything that is proprietary to your employer can't be taken and modified and claimed as your own. Find out if your work rules or contract specifically say you are or are not permitted to design software outside of work. If you become a competitor of your employer, even inadvertently, that's not good. You may be fired or given the choice of doing your work or designing software outside of work hours.
2007-05-23 16:44:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what type of contract you're under. But according to regular jobs no one said you can't have more than one job. So really I don't think they could claim any of your own software developments.
2007-05-23 16:41:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No he cannot as long as you are doing it on your own time with your own equipment and resources
2007-05-23 16:39:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. I bet you signed a contract that states just that.
2007-05-23 16:40:04 · answer #6 · answered by sam hill 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋