3 ms·

As long as you work on your own time, equipment, and ideas, why would this be a problem? Seems like an invalid limiting belief.

abrookewood 11y ago
Not necessarily. In Australia it is increasingly common to see 'moonlighting' either prohibited outright or have the company attempt to claim ownership of it.
guiambros 11y ago
Many companies require their employees to give away any and all intellectual rights while working for them, even when created on your own spare time and equipment. You may request an exception, but it'll need to be reviewed and approved beforehand by their lawyers. Previous discussion here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2208056 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2208056
- kabdib 11y ago
  Talk to a lawyer, but in the US it depends on the state you live in. In CA I believe you own things done on your own time and equipment. (In WA, not so much).
  - rbrcurtis 11y ago
    In both NC and WI where I work it's true that you own your side projects given the caveats above. I assumed it was most states so I'm surprised to see WA is different.
- seanwilson 11y ago
  For what it's worth, I asked the founders of a startup I was working at if I could develop and sell my own apps in my spare time and they gave me permission to do so without any issues. We agreed that any apps I made couldn't compete in the domain the startup was based around which I thought was fair.
- Will_Do 11y ago
  In most U.S. states (even WA) [Law here](http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.44.140 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.44.140). Employers often still make you sign something saying that they own your soul and blah blah but they aren't enforceable. Now, in some states (WA but not CA or NY) your employer can fire you for moonlighting if they want to but that's about it. You also have to watch out if you signed a non-compete and are arguably competing with your employer.
  - lfowles 11y ago
    These states seem to be a minority, see Intellectual Property and the Employee Engineer[1] California CA Labor 2870 -2872 Delaware 19 Del.C. s 805 Illinois 765 I.L.C.S. 1060/2 Kansas K.S.A. 44-130 Minnesota M.S.A. 181.78 North Carolina G.S. s 66-57.1 Washington RCWA 49.44.140, 150 Utah UT ST s 34-39-3 [1]: https://www.ieeeusa.org/members/IPandtheengineer.pdf https://www.ieeeusa.org/members/IPandtheengineer.pdf
- lfowles 11y ago
  Even in states that do not allow a company to take complete control of an employees IP, the employee will still need to document and work with the company to make sure the rights are completely theirs. Little bit more on that: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9807612 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9807612

abrookewood 11y ago

Not necessarily. In Australia it is increasingly common to see 'moonlighting' either prohibited outright or have the company attempt to claim ownership of it.

guiambros 11y ago

Many companies require their employees to give away any and all intellectual rights while working for them, even when created on your own spare time and equipment. You may request an exception, but it'll need to be reviewed and approved beforehand by their lawyers. Previous discussion here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2208056 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2208056

kabdib 11y ago
Talk to a lawyer, but in the US it depends on the state you live in. In CA I believe you own things done on your own time and equipment. (In WA, not so much).
- rbrcurtis 11y ago
  In both NC and WI where I work it's true that you own your side projects given the caveats above. I assumed it was most states so I'm surprised to see WA is different.
seanwilson 11y ago
For what it's worth, I asked the founders of a startup I was working at if I could develop and sell my own apps in my spare time and they gave me permission to do so without any issues. We agreed that any apps I made couldn't compete in the domain the startup was based around which I thought was fair.
Will_Do 11y ago
In most U.S. states (even WA) [Law here](http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.44.140 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.44.140). Employers often still make you sign something saying that they own your soul and blah blah but they aren't enforceable. Now, in some states (WA but not CA or NY) your employer can fire you for moonlighting if they want to but that's about it. You also have to watch out if you signed a non-compete and are arguably competing with your employer.
- lfowles 11y ago
  These states seem to be a minority, see Intellectual Property and the Employee Engineer[1] California CA Labor 2870 -2872 Delaware 19 Del.C. s 805 Illinois 765 I.L.C.S. 1060/2 Kansas K.S.A. 44-130 Minnesota M.S.A. 181.78 North Carolina G.S. s 66-57.1 Washington RCWA 49.44.140, 150 Utah UT ST s 34-39-3 [1]: https://www.ieeeusa.org/members/IPandtheengineer.pdf https://www.ieeeusa.org/members/IPandtheengineer.pdf
lfowles 11y ago
Even in states that do not allow a company to take complete control of an employees IP, the employee will still need to document and work with the company to make sure the rights are completely theirs. Little bit more on that: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9807612 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9807612