Here's a different thought for you: owning the software, and being able to sell it and make money, are very different. It requires sales and business skills, m

Here's a different thought for you: owning the software, and being able to sell it and make money, are very different. It requires sales and business skills, money to allow for all that, plus time supporting and installing it. What a shame it would be for you to own 100% of nothing - wouldn't you prefer a small % of something? Your current employer is already geared up for that. Why not talk to your manager, explain what you have done, and say that you'd like to have some recognition that you've put your spare time into it, but want the company to be able to sell it. Value is in the ability to deliver intellectual work, not in the work itself, and delivery takes a whole team of different skills.