4 ms·
Call the VC and tell him you're the guy who owns the IP to his startup and that you see 3 paths forward. Offer to sign the IP over to him for market rate.($100
by b_t_s 8y ago
Call the VC and tell him you're the guy who owns the IP to his startup and that you see 3 paths forward. Offer to sign the IP over to him for market rate.($100 an hour times approximate number of hours you worked there). Or he can just call his goons off and leave the IP question fuzzy. Or he can keep harassing you and you can report his company for paying below minimum wage, tax evasion, and fraud, and you can assert your IP rights on the code you wrote. His call. Better yet, get a lawyer to make the call. Mr VC will probably just buzz off, but you may be pleasantly surprised to get a (well deserved) check for 50 grand if the startup is not a lost cause.
- karmajunkie 8y agoI don't know if I'd be that aggressive about it, but parent is correct that you likely own the IP. An NDA is not a consulting agreement, and it would be very unusual for an NDA to assign copyright or declare work product to be a work-for-hire. This gives you a lot of leverage. They want you to give something back because they think you have nothing to take back from them. What you have is way more valuable than the back wages (which are very likely in violation of federal employment law as you've described your situation.) Seriously, talk to a lawyer. Best money you'll ever spend.