5 ms·

Of course, IANAL. I also don't like those kinds of employment clauses. The way I understand it those clauses are written to prevent the kind of situation where

Of course, IANAL. I also don't like those kinds of employment clauses. The way I understand it those clauses are written to prevent the kind of situation where you have a problem at work, can't solve it, go home, solve it, then offer to license it to your employer the following day for a reasonable charge.

stavrianos 13y ago
Exactly this. If employers only have claim to ideas you have during work hours, you can claim to have thought to directly-work-related-idea-X outside that window (ie, in the shower), and therefore be justified in selling it to their competitor. It's just simpler for employers to make a blanket claim on everything and then fight things on a case-by-case basis in the other direction if need be.
monochr 13y ago
And why is that unreasonable? If I did it on my own time and my own resources they should pay for it. Jobs aren't slave contracts where a company gets to own everything about me. And if an employ doesn't do any work at work and just does this sort of thing: fire them, then hire them as a consultant. The business just lost most of the tax burden of supporting an employee, e.g. pay roll taxes, insurance, etc. And the employee just got even more intensives to work the way they were before. I really don't get Americans. Capitalism is good everywhere, but not in the workplace where we need to treat everyone like the dirty peasant they are.
- hobs 13y ago
  I agree with you, and I think the poster is being sarcastic, hence the reasonable charge aspect. I think the real problem is if the company was sharing in the profits of the invention, and companies took care of workers as they did back in the day, this would not be nearly the point of contention it is. My father's company pays you for getting a patent, then pays you a percentage for their profits related to that patent, I dont know how they do the math, and it is likely favorable, but the rub is that there is tangible benefits to you for inventing things, oh wow!
- judk 13y ago
  Slaves aren't paid market wages for their work and free to leave at any time. When someone invests in your creativity, they are entitled to the agreed returns. You are free to find funding on other terms elsewhere.

stavrianos 13y ago

Exactly this. If employers only have claim to ideas you have during work hours, you can claim to have thought to directly-work-related-idea-X outside that window (ie, in the shower), and therefore be justified in selling it to their competitor. It's just simpler for employers to make a blanket claim on everything and then fight things on a case-by-case basis in the other direction if need be.

monochr 13y ago

And why is that unreasonable? If I did it on my own time and my own resources they should pay for it. Jobs aren't slave contracts where a company gets to own everything about me. And if an employ doesn't do any work at work and just does this sort of thing: fire them, then hire them as a consultant. The business just lost most of the tax burden of supporting an employee, e.g. pay roll taxes, insurance, etc. And the employee just got even more intensives to work the way they were before. I really don't get Americans. Capitalism is good everywhere, but not in the workplace where we need to treat everyone like the dirty peasant they are.

hobs 13y ago
I agree with you, and I think the poster is being sarcastic, hence the reasonable charge aspect. I think the real problem is if the company was sharing in the profits of the invention, and companies took care of workers as they did back in the day, this would not be nearly the point of contention it is. My father's company pays you for getting a patent, then pays you a percentage for their profits related to that patent, I dont know how they do the math, and it is likely favorable, but the rub is that there is tangible benefits to you for inventing things, oh wow!
judk 13y ago
Slaves aren't paid market wages for their work and free to leave at any time. When someone invests in your creativity, they are entitled to the agreed returns. You are free to find funding on other terms elsewhere.