7 ms·

Surviving Your First Year

105 points by bshanks 9y ago

lloydde 9y ago
Can’t read on iPhone SE without subscribing to email list :(
- tedmiston 9y ago
  Try Reader mode. I didn't get a signup modal on a 6S though.
- robotresearcher 9y ago
  Just click outside the overlay. It goes away.
eternauta3k 9y ago
The relationship between a company, its early adopters and its wider customer base reminds me of Geeks, Mops and Sociopaths [1] [1] https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths
dceddia 9y ago
Their suggestion about assigning IP to the company seems fairly standard (and employee-hostile), but their anecdotal story doesn't really justify it in my mind: > Assign Intellectual Property. Ask everyone to sign a Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment (“PIIA”). This document says that what they do at the company is owned by the company. Early on we had a friend who came by and brainstormed ideas. We thought of it as interesting banter. He later said he owned part of our storage design. While we worked it out together, a PIIA makes ownership clear. If a friend came by to brainstorm ideas, it does't seem likely that someone would have the nerve to open with "Ok but first we need you to sign this PIAA agreement."
- fencepost 9y ago
  > If a friend came by to brainstorm ideas, it does't seem likely that someone would have the nerve to open with "Ok but first we need you to sign this PIAA agreement." Better the awkwardness of that discussion than the situation they almost had of someone suing for a payoff after they had success because of (uncompensated?) discussions with friends. If any party is under the impression that what they're doing requires compensation or ownership that NEEDS to be known up front by everyone.
  - kakarot 9y ago
    If someone informally visits a company and brainstorms business ideas, it is THEIR responsiblity to ascertain whether they will be compensated somehow. I doubt at any point that someone led him to believe he would be, and it's his own damn fault for not voicing his thoughts and concerns before offering his expertise.
    - kjs3 9y ago
      But someone like this can still impact your business. For example, merely threatening to litigate over their perceived rights could ruin a funding round. This is very serious.

105 points by bshanks 9y ago

lloydde 9y ago

Can’t read on iPhone SE without subscribing to email list :(

tedmiston 9y ago
Try Reader mode. I didn't get a signup modal on a 6S though.
robotresearcher 9y ago
Just click outside the overlay. It goes away.

eternauta3k 9y ago

The relationship between a company, its early adopters and its wider customer base reminds me of Geeks, Mops and Sociopaths [1] [1] https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths

dceddia 9y ago

Their suggestion about assigning IP to the company seems fairly standard (and employee-hostile), but their anecdotal story doesn't really justify it in my mind: > Assign Intellectual Property. Ask everyone to sign a Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment (“PIIA”). This document says that what they do at the company is owned by the company. Early on we had a friend who came by and brainstormed ideas. We thought of it as interesting banter. He later said he owned part of our storage design. While we worked it out together, a PIIA makes ownership clear. If a friend came by to brainstorm ideas, it does't seem likely that someone would have the nerve to open with "Ok but first we need you to sign this PIAA agreement."

fencepost 9y ago
> If a friend came by to brainstorm ideas, it does't seem likely that someone would have the nerve to open with "Ok but first we need you to sign this PIAA agreement." Better the awkwardness of that discussion than the situation they almost had of someone suing for a payoff after they had success because of (uncompensated?) discussions with friends. If any party is under the impression that what they're doing requires compensation or ownership that NEEDS to be known up front by everyone.
- kakarot 9y ago
  If someone informally visits a company and brainstorms business ideas, it is THEIR responsiblity to ascertain whether they will be compensated somehow. I doubt at any point that someone led him to believe he would be, and it's his own damn fault for not voicing his thoughts and concerns before offering his expertise.
  - kjs3 9y ago
    But someone like this can still impact your business. For example, merely threatening to litigate over their perceived rights could ruin a funding round. This is very serious.