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When I was an intern at IBM the contract basically said they owned everything you produce, whether you do it in the office or not. They seemed to take that quit
by mnd999 6y ago
When I was an intern at IBM the contract basically said they owned everything you produce, whether you do it in the office or not. They seemed to take that quite seriously.
I think it’s an IP thing, they view it as their IP the employee is contributing so it should be in their name.
This was ~20 years ago but it seems not much has changed.
- kungito 6y agoThe reason why they do this is because you could pretend your are working for them but actually do something else on the side during the time they are paying you. The only way to avoid is is by completely banning other work. It really makes sense from their side
- vasco 6y agoYou could, and then you either are still able to deliver an amount of work that makes them happy, in which case, why do they care - or you can't deliver an acceptable amount of work and they can fire you for performance. No need to own 100% of anyone's time.
- mnd999 6y agoThe third option is that you do something really cool that contractually they own. Be very careful with side projects under these types of contracts.
- watt 6y agoThis makes zero sense, and sounds more corporate slave-ownership. If you are going to pay the going hourly rate for 168 hours a week, yeah maybe there's something. But if you only pay for 40 hours a week, that's what you get: not a single minute outside of that. And especially not something the person did or invented at home.
- mnd999 6y agoIt's pretty common in the industry to have these type of IP clauses. I get the impression most people don't read their contract.
- wott 6y agoI'll fix your sentence a bit: > It's pretty common in the US industry to have these type of IP clauses.
- zvr 6y agoNot only US; lots of companies in Europe have similar clauses.
- joshmanders 6y ago> I get the impression most people don't read their contract. We read them, one of two situations occurs: 1. We don't care and sign it. 2. We raise a stink about it and either they change it or we don't take the job. My current employer had the clause because it was standard boilerplate contract, but when I expressed my concerns over it and told them I wouldn't sign with it, they amended the contract to make sure nothing in it would impede my own projects and company. Now on my 1-on-1 my CEO often asks me how my side business is doing and gives me advice as needed about building a business.
- nandhinianand 6y agoBoy do I need a job at your company.. :-P
- kungito 6y agoDid you not read what I wrote? I said you could work during company time and that is why they do it. It's not just that. You can realistically only work a few hours a day properly so if you spend all your thinking power on hobbies there is little left for the guy who pays you