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> when pressed about my plans, told Fs There's your mistake. It's one thing to keep your ideas separate from your work (there are contracts that insist that a

> when pressed about my plans, told Fs There's your mistake. It's one thing to keep your ideas separate from your work (there are contracts that insist that any idea you have belongs to who you work for), but it's another to tell your company about your ideas. As soon as you tell them, they can make an argument about who owns the idea. That said, they sound pretty incompetent. If you're serious about your idea, you probably need a lawyer at this point. If not, cut your losses, be done with them, and move on. I can't actually give you advice on your idea, it might be good to let that go as well if you want to avoid future legal problems. If you think it's worth fighting for, get a lawyer. In the future, keep your ideas separate from your work if you're entrepreneurial. By that I mean only work on them in your own time on your own equipment, including your smart phone.

thrwawayaftruse 12y ago
Yes. It really was. I don't like to think of myself as naive, but I really didn't think that one through. I have validated the need for the product and, though IANAL, think it's worth the risk (considering email evidence etc). Thanks for your feedback. And, I mean it when I say this: I appreciate you taking the time to comment and reinforce my "fuck that was stupid" moment. Live and learn I guess.
joeclark77 12y ago
Somehow I doubt that these guys have the drive and sticktuitiveness to go after the OP in court. Seems that they're either too shy or too lazy to even talk to potential customers, much less fight you in court for another idea that they wouldn't follow through on anyway. OP should probably take sensible precautions like saving all his e-mails (off of company machines!) and staying on friendly terms with other employees who might one day be called as witnesses. But I wouldn't recommend "ragequitting", just go politely.
- thrwawayaftruse 12y ago
  Yup. I am not worried about being out-executed by them. Things would be a lot different if I respected their execution enough to be afraid of it :) I've been meticulous about saving emails and am on great terms with the other employees. As you recommend, I'm swallowing my bile and quitting politely, but firmly. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It's unanimous: I've been stupid and the only thing to do now is damage control and move on with life :)
  - joeclark77 12y ago
    I don't think you've been stupid. You were patient and gave some of your time to support someone else. If nobody did that, or if we called people "stupid" for doing that, we'd be living in a pretty lousy world. In this case it didn't work out for you, but next time maybe it will. I hope you don't adapt to this experience by becoming a trust-no-one paranoid.
    - thrwawayaftruse 12y ago
      Hi Joe, Thanks for taking the time to reply. I understand what you mean. While I'm going to still be loyal until given reason not to, the main thing this experience has taught me is that you can't wait too long for other people to help themselves. Sometimes being loyal/being there is just enabling. I guess the art is in figuring out when you are supporting vs enabling :)

thrwawayaftruse 12y ago

Yes. It really was. I don't like to think of myself as naive, but I really didn't think that one through. I have validated the need for the product and, though IANAL, think it's worth the risk (considering email evidence etc). Thanks for your feedback. And, I mean it when I say this: I appreciate you taking the time to comment and reinforce my "fuck that was stupid" moment. Live and learn I guess.

joeclark77 12y ago

Somehow I doubt that these guys have the drive and sticktuitiveness to go after the OP in court. Seems that they're either too shy or too lazy to even talk to potential customers, much less fight you in court for another idea that they wouldn't follow through on anyway. OP should probably take sensible precautions like saving all his e-mails (off of company machines!) and staying on friendly terms with other employees who might one day be called as witnesses. But I wouldn't recommend "ragequitting", just go politely.

thrwawayaftruse 12y ago
Yup. I am not worried about being out-executed by them. Things would be a lot different if I respected their execution enough to be afraid of it :) I've been meticulous about saving emails and am on great terms with the other employees. As you recommend, I'm swallowing my bile and quitting politely, but firmly. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It's unanimous: I've been stupid and the only thing to do now is damage control and move on with life :)
- joeclark77 12y ago
  I don't think you've been stupid. You were patient and gave some of your time to support someone else. If nobody did that, or if we called people "stupid" for doing that, we'd be living in a pretty lousy world. In this case it didn't work out for you, but next time maybe it will. I hope you don't adapt to this experience by becoming a trust-no-one paranoid.
  - thrwawayaftruse 12y ago
    Hi Joe, Thanks for taking the time to reply. I understand what you mean. While I'm going to still be loyal until given reason not to, the main thing this experience has taught me is that you can't wait too long for other people to help themselves. Sometimes being loyal/being there is just enabling. I guess the art is in figuring out when you are supporting vs enabling :)