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Will employer sue a competitive spare time opensource project?
My company runs a full opensource project under Apache 2 license. Unsatisfying its quality, I create a similar project in my spare time and plan to opensource after quitting current work. Will this cause my company sue me if someday I build some commercial version based on my spare time opensource project? The project is created all on my own time and own equipment, but it does compete to current company's opensource project.
- CyberFonic 12y agoIf your project ever makes any money or gains any recognition, then your (ex)employer is very likely to sue. Most employment contracts include a clause saying that "all" work you perform during your employment is owned by them. Unrelated hobby work is generally Ok. But from what you describe, under most jurisdictions your work will be deemed to be owned by your employer. Will be very interesting to see what others suggest. But my advice is: "Don't go there!".
- zxwing 12y agoeven if it won't make money but gains recognition, the ex-employer will sue you? Then what will they get? The copyright? As an opensource project, everybody can fork their own copy and make money on that.
- ohyes 12y agoSure, recognition can be traded for money. It has value. I would wait for them to fold or for a significant number of years to pass (basically for plausible deniability and any no compete to pass). But really, why work on the same thing twice? Pick a side project that steps on someone who isn't your employer's toes.
- staunch 12y agoIt's up to a court to decide what your rights are under the law. Signing a piece of paper does not mean a court will enforce anything written on it.