4 ms·

IIRC california if you don't use company assets, side projects are yours. Speaking of, I'd like some collaborators to help with my side project "Terra Plant":

by lowglow 10y ago

IIRC california if you don't use company assets, side projects are yours. Speaking of, I'd like some collaborators to help with my side project "Terra Plant": https://baqqer.com/collaborate https://baqqer.com/collaborate

JshWright 10y ago
I recall that as well... Mostly from reading it 90 seconds ago in the linked article ;)
- hyperopia 10y ago
  then he saved some people some clicks ;)
mikepavone 10y ago
If you read the full article, it covers the law in California which has three tests. Two of those tests are straightforward (company time and company equipment), but the third (related to the company's business) is less straightforward. My impression as a non-laywer is that the courts will probably take a somewhat narrow view of that third test, but the actual language in the law is pretty vague and some companies are involved in many fields. EDIT: May be a bit less narrow than I thought. This [1] journal article cites some relevant case law. [1] https://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/1773.1/1169/8wjlta79.pdf?sequence=4 https://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/hand...
- KallDrexx 10y ago
  I think he is too dismissive of company time though. Company time is very straightforward only if you work 9-5, but a lot of companies let developers work flexible hours and work from home, which I think makes company time less straight forward. Then when you add on call or emergency work you have to do off hours or on weekends (even once every 6 months) it makes the idea of "company time" even more vague.
  - walshemj 10y ago
    and pretty much all developers are salaried so the concept of 9-5 doesn't apply
abritinthebay 10y ago
True, but there's an important caveat that they go over in the article: it must not be "related" to your current company. If that's Google, Apple, or Microsoft... related is a LOT of topics. Also say you're a games programmer - better not code up a hobby game in your spare time and sell it. ... and so on.

by lowglow 10y ago

JshWright 10y ago

I recall that as well... Mostly from reading it 90 seconds ago in the linked article ;)

hyperopia 10y ago
then he saved some people some clicks ;)

mikepavone 10y ago

If you read the full article, it covers the law in California which has three tests. Two of those tests are straightforward (company time and company equipment), but the third (related to the company's business) is less straightforward. My impression as a non-laywer is that the courts will probably take a somewhat narrow view of that third test, but the actual language in the law is pretty vague and some companies are involved in many fields. EDIT: May be a bit less narrow than I thought. This [1] journal article cites some relevant case law. [1] https://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/1773.1/1169/8wjlta79.pdf?sequence=4 https://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/hand...

KallDrexx 10y ago
I think he is too dismissive of company time though. Company time is very straightforward only if you work 9-5, but a lot of companies let developers work flexible hours and work from home, which I think makes company time less straight forward. Then when you add on call or emergency work you have to do off hours or on weekends (even once every 6 months) it makes the idea of "company time" even more vague.
- walshemj 10y ago
  and pretty much all developers are salaried so the concept of 9-5 doesn't apply

abritinthebay 10y ago

True, but there's an important caveat that they go over in the article: it must not be "related" to your current company. If that's Google, Apple, or Microsoft... related is a LOT of topics. Also say you're a games programmer - better not code up a hobby game in your spare time and sell it. ... and so on.