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People seem to not quite get this, so I'll try to be as clear as I can. Google should not have the ability to claim ownership on unrelated work that does not u
by m0zg 8y ago
People seem to not quite get this, so I'll try to be as clear as I can.
Google should not have the ability to claim ownership on unrelated work that does not use company time or resources unless _I_ _voluntarily_ relinquish such ownership. Google should have no business whatsoever interfering with what I do on my own personal time. Nor should I have to make anything open source. Nor should I need to ask anyone's _permission_ to utilize my own time as I see fit. You can get these terms with other companies, if you ask for them.
The only exception I think is reasonable is if my project discloses Google proprietary information in any way, or directly competes with Google, in which case Google should be able to terminate my employment.
This would be fair. What Google is doing now is slimy AF.
- joshuamorton 8y agoThe key point is "if you can demonstrate that your project doesn't compete with Google's business" IARC is really easy. I was approved for a couple projects, including one that absolutely could be considered to be competing with Google's business if they wanted, in like a week. You aren't actually legally required to go through IARC. The contract isn't enforcible in CA if you really don't compete, but I have prewritten verification of that now, and it was painless. IME, Google's earned the benefit of the doubt in this context.
- m0zg 8y agoI take issue with the very idea that anything I do in my personal, uncompensated time is required to be vetted or approved by anybody. Google's "earned" a swift kick in the rear in this context.
- throwaway2048 8y agoIf it's not enforceable, why is it in the contract? They obviously intend to try to enforce it in cases where they can, which makes claims about "don't worry about it, its not enforceable" even more shady.
- aiiane 8y agoWhat is "company time" for a salaried employee that doesn't have required working hours?
- icebraining 8y agoIt's the time spent working for the company.
- ovi256 8y agoCome on, then it's a straight down slope to the company owns all intelectual output. Write a sonnet for a lover ? Bam, it owns it. If it wasn't planned through the usual company command-and-control chain of command, it obviously should be outside company time when you're at home.
- C1sc0cat 8y agoThat would not be related :_) - though the court case would be awesome.
- C1sc0cat 8y agoYou might "think" but that's how Anglo Saxon employment law (UK USA Some Commonwealth countries) works. There is literally hundreds of years of case law on this - you may not know that modern employment law descends from acts like the "masters and servants act" - guess which one we are.
- m0zg 8y agoThere were hundreds of years of "case law" on not letting black people drink from the same water fountains as white people. And yet, here we are.