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Working fulltime for Powerset, how did you avert any potential IP issues with Powerset? Employee contracts for just about any big tech company includes provisi

by alok-g 16y ago

Working fulltime for Powerset, how did you avert any potential IP issues with Powerset? Employee contracts for just about any big tech company includes provisions that automatically makes all types of IP (including inventions and copyrights) developed by the employee belong to the company. This applies even if the work is done completely on the sides and outside work hours. California specifically has laws that allow employees to claim inventions of their own but still under terms that are more favorable to the employer (I can supply details). There's no help for copyrightable works, which would include software, or even a written plan for developing this software. I certainly have this issue currently preventing me from doing any work to bootstrap while I am still employed. Most people I spoke to at SUS2010 who are working on side projects are completely unaware of the issue. Some are ignoring it thinking that it must somehow work out. On the other hand, every successful founder I spoke to, either did not have this issue (founded right after school, etc.), or did not do any work before quitting (which they did either before or after securing funding).

alok-g 16y ago
Tom, I would like to thank you for giving us this opportunity (in addition to the beautiful talk you delivered at the school). While I am not fully confident that I'll be ABLE to optimize for happiness, I certainly got the message. Thanks again.
kneath 16y ago
ProTip: Just because someone puts a form in front of you doesn't mean you have to sign it :) That form (release of inventions) scared me the first time I saw it (agency job) and I asked if I could just not sign it — they said that was fine. It's amazing how far you can get in life by just asking questions.
- alok-g 16y ago
  I did not know this more than half-a-decade earlier. I had even added the stuff I want to work on as an exception clause in the form. But it turns out that those apply only to (A) inventions/patents type of IP, and (B) work done prior to signing the form. Reading the form that I signed, doing extensive online research, and then reading the form again, I found that the form has been very carefully crafted to take care of every type of IP possible and yet without violating any laws including those of California. In my case at least, I am skeptical that not signing the form would have worked. But may be. I'll certainly be smarter next time around!
staunch 16y ago
IANAL, but I believe in California you're pretty much safe if: 1) You only work on your own unpaid time and not in the company's facilities. 2) You only work with your own hardware/software. 3) You don't do anything even tangentially related to your employer's line of business. I do not believe #3 is really a hard requirement, but it significantly decreases your chances getting sued (and losing if you do get sued anyway).
- alok-g 16y ago
  (A) This applies only to inventions and patents. All other IP (including copyrightable material) like software and documents is still at issue. (B) Indeed. Nothing is a hard requirement until you get asked in the court, "what made you think this was not a hard requirement when it's written in California code".

by alok-g 16y ago

alok-g 16y ago

Tom, I would like to thank you for giving us this opportunity (in addition to the beautiful talk you delivered at the school). While I am not fully confident that I'll be ABLE to optimize for happiness, I certainly got the message. Thanks again.

kneath 16y ago

ProTip: Just because someone puts a form in front of you doesn't mean you have to sign it :) That form (release of inventions) scared me the first time I saw it (agency job) and I asked if I could just not sign it — they said that was fine. It's amazing how far you can get in life by just asking questions.

alok-g 16y ago
I did not know this more than half-a-decade earlier. I had even added the stuff I want to work on as an exception clause in the form. But it turns out that those apply only to (A) inventions/patents type of IP, and (B) work done prior to signing the form. Reading the form that I signed, doing extensive online research, and then reading the form again, I found that the form has been very carefully crafted to take care of every type of IP possible and yet without violating any laws including those of California. In my case at least, I am skeptical that not signing the form would have worked. But may be. I'll certainly be smarter next time around!

staunch 16y ago

IANAL, but I believe in California you're pretty much safe if: 1) You only work on your own unpaid time and not in the company's facilities. 2) You only work with your own hardware/software. 3) You don't do anything even tangentially related to your employer's line of business. I do not believe #3 is really a hard requirement, but it significantly decreases your chances getting sued (and losing if you do get sued anyway).

alok-g 16y ago
(A) This applies only to inventions and patents. All other IP (including copyrightable material) like software and documents is still at issue. (B) Indeed. Nothing is a hard requirement until you get asked in the court, "what made you think this was not a hard requirement when it's written in California code".