The default rule for what happens w/o a contract is different for each state. But many states say that a work, created during employment, that is within the sco

The default rule for what happens w/o a contract is different for each state. But many states say that a work, created during employment, that is within the scope of your work and on company time is company property. Note, this doesn't apply to contractors. I can't think of a state where a program you create to automate your job, that you wrote on company time, wouldn't be the companies property. Of course an employment contract can easily modify the general rule. For contractors the rule is the opposite. They retain IP by default.