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Developing an application voluntarily for my company in my free time - Do I own it? [closed]
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I often find myself with free time at work, and our e-reader (I work for a small town newspaper) is not user friendly in the least. So in my free time, and sometimes off the clock, I began developing a better web application for viewing the newspaper online.
The application is intended primarily for the betterment of the company - but I'm doing something that I don't have to do, in free time where I would otherwise be twiddling my thumbs.
I explained to my boss what I was doing and asked if, after setting up the company with a free copy of the software, I could keep distribution rights.
He said that we'd have to discuss the specifics.
So that's where my question comes in:
What rights / ownership can I expect, ethically, or logically, over this software?
- I was hired as a designer, not a developer
- I've only signed a standard employment contract nothing that should cover software.
- The project is voluntary, in my free time
- I spent 50% of the development time "on the clock" and the rest I've stayed late to work on.
legal intellectual-property
asked Feb 4 '15 at 18:40
CuriousWebDeveloper
18716
closed as off-topic by gnat, jcmeloni, Garrison Neely, Jim G., Chris E Feb 6 '15 at 23:37
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – gnat, jcmeloni, Garrison Neely, Jim G., Chris E
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I often find myself with free time at work, and our e-reader (I work for a small town newspaper) is not user friendly in the least. So in my free time, and sometimes off the clock, I began developing a better web application for viewing the newspaper online.
The application is intended primarily for the betterment of the company - but I'm doing something that I don't have to do, in free time where I would otherwise be twiddling my thumbs.
I explained to my boss what I was doing and asked if, after setting up the company with a free copy of the software, I could keep distribution rights.
He said that we'd have to discuss the specifics.
So that's where my question comes in:
What rights / ownership can I expect, ethically, or logically, over this software?
- I was hired as a designer, not a developer
- I've only signed a standard employment contract nothing that should cover software.
- The project is voluntary, in my free time
- I spent 50% of the development time "on the clock" and the rest I've stayed late to work on.
legal intellectual-property
asked Feb 4 '15 at 18:40
CuriousWebDeveloper
18716
closed as off-topic by gnat, jcmeloni, Garrison Neely, Jim G., Chris E Feb 6 '15 at 23:37
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – gnat, jcmeloni, Garrison Neely, Jim G., Chris E
3
Depends what your contract says, and what legal jurisdiction you're in.
– A E
Feb 4 '15 at 23:50
Might be interesting to know that most of the answers also apply to schools/college/universities.
– Martijn
Feb 5 '15 at 13:55
I normally would have voted to close because if it was all done at home it depends on the contract and how it would withstand a legal review in that country. But it was done at the company, on the clock, using the company equipment.
– mhoran_psprep
Feb 5 '15 at 15:07
1
@bharal then why is there an ethics tag?
– CuriousWebDeveloper
Feb 6 '15 at 1:53
1
Your free time at work is not your free time -- your free time is when you are away from work, either at home, or at a library, or in a coffee shop, or wherever. (I once worked for a company many years ago that claimed they owned my software that I developed at home on my own time -- that was clearly out of bounds and I left the company and formed my own.)
– tcrosley
Feb 8 '15 at 18:35
 |Â
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up vote
2
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up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I often find myself with free time at work, and our e-reader (I work for a small town newspaper) is not user friendly in the least. So in my free time, and sometimes off the clock, I began developing a better web application for viewing the newspaper online.
The application is intended primarily for the betterment of the company - but I'm doing something that I don't have to do, in free time where I would otherwise be twiddling my thumbs.
I explained to my boss what I was doing and asked if, after setting up the company with a free copy of the software, I could keep distribution rights.
He said that we'd have to discuss the specifics.
So that's where my question comes in:
What rights / ownership can I expect, ethically, or logically, over this software?
- I was hired as a designer, not a developer
- I've only signed a standard employment contract nothing that should cover software.
- The project is voluntary, in my free time
- I spent 50% of the development time "on the clock" and the rest I've stayed late to work on.
legal intellectual-property
asked Feb 4 '15 at 18:40
CuriousWebDeveloper
18716
I often find myself with free time at work, and our e-reader (I work for a small town newspaper) is not user friendly in the least. So in my free time, and sometimes off the clock, I began developing a better web application for viewing the newspaper online.
The application is intended primarily for the betterment of the company - but I'm doing something that I don't have to do, in free time where I would otherwise be twiddling my thumbs.
I explained to my boss what I was doing and asked if, after setting up the company with a free copy of the software, I could keep distribution rights.
He said that we'd have to discuss the specifics.
So that's where my question comes in:
What rights / ownership can I expect, ethically, or logically, over this software?
- I was hired as a designer, not a developer
- I've only signed a standard employment contract nothing that should cover software.
- The project is voluntary, in my free time
- I spent 50% of the development time "on the clock" and the rest I've stayed late to work on.
legal intellectual-property
asked Feb 4 '15 at 18:40
CuriousWebDeveloper
18716
edited Feb 6 '15 at 7:58
user1023
asked Feb 4 '15 at 18:40
CuriousWebDeveloper
18716
asked Feb 4 '15 at 18:40
CuriousWebDeveloper
18716
asked Feb 4 '15 at 18:40
CuriousWebDeveloper
18716
18716
closed as off-topic by gnat, jcmeloni, Garrison Neely, Jim G., Chris E Feb 6 '15 at 23:37
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – gnat, jcmeloni, Garrison Neely, Jim G., Chris E
closed as off-topic by gnat, jcmeloni, Garrison Neely, Jim G., Chris E Feb 6 '15 at 23:37
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – gnat, jcmeloni, Garrison Neely, Jim G., Chris E
3
Depends what your contract says, and what legal jurisdiction you're in.
– A E
Feb 4 '15 at 23:50
Might be interesting to know that most of the answers also apply to schools/college/universities.
– Martijn
Feb 5 '15 at 13:55
I normally would have voted to close because if it was all done at home it depends on the contract and how it would withstand a legal review in that country. But it was done at the company, on the clock, using the company equipment.
– mhoran_psprep
Feb 5 '15 at 15:07
1
@bharal then why is there an ethics tag?
– CuriousWebDeveloper
Feb 6 '15 at 1:53
1
Your free time at work is not your free time -- your free time is when you are away from work, either at home, or at a library, or in a coffee shop, or wherever. (I once worked for a company many years ago that claimed they owned my software that I developed at home on my own time -- that was clearly out of bounds and I left the company and formed my own.)
– tcrosley
Feb 8 '15 at 18:35
 |Â
show 3 more comments
3
Depends what your contract says, and what legal jurisdiction you're in.
– A E
Feb 4 '15 at 23:50
Might be interesting to know that most of the answers also apply to schools/college/universities.
– Martijn
Feb 5 '15 at 13:55
I normally would have voted to close because if it was all done at home it depends on the contract and how it would withstand a legal review in that country. But it was done at the company, on the clock, using the company equipment.
– mhoran_psprep
Feb 5 '15 at 15:07
1
@bharal then why is there an ethics tag?
– CuriousWebDeveloper
Feb 6 '15 at 1:53
1
Your free time at work is not your free time -- your free time is when you are away from work, either at home, or at a library, or in a coffee shop, or wherever. (I once worked for a company many years ago that claimed they owned my software that I developed at home on my own time -- that was clearly out of bounds and I left the company and formed my own.)
– tcrosley
Feb 8 '15 at 18:35
3
3
Depends what your contract says, and what legal jurisdiction you're in.
– A E
Feb 4 '15 at 23:50
Depends what your contract says, and what legal jurisdiction you're in.
– A E
Feb 4 '15 at 23:50
Might be interesting to know that most of the answers also apply to schools/college/universities.
– Martijn
Feb 5 '15 at 13:55
Might be interesting to know that most of the answers also apply to schools/college/universities.
– Martijn
Feb 5 '15 at 13:55
I normally would have voted to close because if it was all done at home it depends on the contract and how it would withstand a legal review in that country. But it was done at the company, on the clock, using the company equipment.
– mhoran_psprep
Feb 5 '15 at 15:07
I normally would have voted to close because if it was all done at home it depends on the contract and how it would withstand a legal review in that country. But it was done at the company, on the clock, using the company equipment.
– mhoran_psprep
Feb 5 '15 at 15:07
1
1
@bharal then why is there an ethics tag?
– CuriousWebDeveloper
Feb 6 '15 at 1:53
@bharal then why is there an ethics tag?
– CuriousWebDeveloper
Feb 6 '15 at 1:53
1
1
Your free time at work is not your free time -- your free time is when you are away from work, either at home, or at a library, or in a coffee shop, or wherever. (I once worked for a company many years ago that claimed they owned my software that I developed at home on my own time -- that was clearly out of bounds and I left the company and formed my own.)
– tcrosley
Feb 8 '15 at 18:35
Your free time at work is not your free time -- your free time is when you are away from work, either at home, or at a library, or in a coffee shop, or wherever. (I once worked for a company many years ago that claimed they owned my software that I developed at home on my own time -- that was clearly out of bounds and I left the company and formed my own.)
– tcrosley
Feb 8 '15 at 18:35
 |Â
show 3 more comments
5 Answers
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up vote
17
down vote
accepted
If you are on the clock, then I don't see how you can own it. In addition you are using their hardware and resources. In many companies you would get fired for using company resources for private gain or to run your outside company.
answered Feb 4 '15 at 18:44
mhoran_psprep
40.3k462144
19
It doesn;t matter, if you do it on company time, it belongs to the company. If you wrote a private app that had nothing to do with the company buisiness on company time, they would own it in most legal jurisdictions. If you wrote a book on company time, they could take ownership of the copywrite. This is why you never under any circumstances do private work on company time. If you aren't busy, then study or find things to do for the company, but never try to profit from work you did on company time.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:08
7
The concept you are not getting is that you have free time when on the clock. It is not free time, the copmpany is paying for it.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:09
1
Even when writing an app in your own time, outside company time, some companies will claim copyright over the app. Although this would probably be specified in the employment contract, and heavily depends on the local laws.
– Paul Hiemstra
Feb 4 '15 at 20:54
1
Any "free time" on the clock is the company's free time. You didn't write it in your free time. You wrote it in the company's free time.
– nhgrif
Feb 5 '15 at 22:52
1
@CuriousWebDeveloper This answer is "wrong". It depends on the OPs contract (and local laws). It only depends on the OPs contract and local laws, actually. We don't know enough about the OPs contract - are all rights to all works assigned to the company? If not, on time or off, the OP may well own all copyright, which means the app is his/hers. Also means this whole question is out of scope...
– bharal
Feb 6 '15 at 1:23
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
4
down vote
If you do it in the time that you are paid for by the company, and using their equipment, then there is no doubt that your work is owned by the company. If you do these things when you are at home in your own free time (time at work where you are not busy isn't "free time"), then you need to read your employment contract and check the laws of your country.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 8:07
gnasher729
71k31131222
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1
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Google especially, and other companies, often call this 20% time (google's term). It is time the company uses to encourage employees to explore new areas, learn new skills, etc. Hopefully, something useful comes out of this, but not that isn't always the case.
Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week. As gnasher729 mentioned, company policy varies, but this is true of a lot of salaried creative positions.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 16:06
Bill Leeper
10.7k2735
1
"Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week." Uhh, no. I can vouch for the fact that this is not at all the case in many jurisdictions and that it is the case somewhere in the world (US?) is pretty messed up.
– Celos
Feb 6 '15 at 9:35
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I think some people on here are apt to assume that the boiler-plate on contracts fully describes reality. It does not unless there are seriously high stakes in play.
The fact is if you weren't paid or even asked to develop this thing, your company may very well NOT find it worthwhile and the question of who "owns it" becomes a waste of effort. The only thing they might care about is whether or not you were blowing their time on something they did not ask you to do.
As for you owning it, it all depends on what you do with it: how you sell/market this thing and whether or not it competes with or harms your employer and whether or not anyone at the company is actually watching or cares.
answered Feb 6 '15 at 1:09
teego1967
10.3k42845
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0
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The first thing you should check is your work contract, and the second place is the law of your country.
Some companies claim ownership to only those things they directly required from you. Some are claiming right to everything you've done in your 'professional domain', including your free-time projects, technical blogs or scientific research (I've once met such requirements, but I have no idea if they were legal).
There's no single answer, only local law system can answer that.
suggest improvements |Â
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
17
down vote
accepted
If you are on the clock, then I don't see how you can own it. In addition you are using their hardware and resources. In many companies you would get fired for using company resources for private gain or to run your outside company.
answered Feb 4 '15 at 18:44
mhoran_psprep
40.3k462144
19
It doesn;t matter, if you do it on company time, it belongs to the company. If you wrote a private app that had nothing to do with the company buisiness on company time, they would own it in most legal jurisdictions. If you wrote a book on company time, they could take ownership of the copywrite. This is why you never under any circumstances do private work on company time. If you aren't busy, then study or find things to do for the company, but never try to profit from work you did on company time.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:08
7
The concept you are not getting is that you have free time when on the clock. It is not free time, the copmpany is paying for it.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:09
1
Even when writing an app in your own time, outside company time, some companies will claim copyright over the app. Although this would probably be specified in the employment contract, and heavily depends on the local laws.
– Paul Hiemstra
Feb 4 '15 at 20:54
1
Any "free time" on the clock is the company's free time. You didn't write it in your free time. You wrote it in the company's free time.
– nhgrif
Feb 5 '15 at 22:52
1
@CuriousWebDeveloper This answer is "wrong". It depends on the OPs contract (and local laws). It only depends on the OPs contract and local laws, actually. We don't know enough about the OPs contract - are all rights to all works assigned to the company? If not, on time or off, the OP may well own all copyright, which means the app is his/hers. Also means this whole question is out of scope...
– bharal
Feb 6 '15 at 1:23
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
17
down vote
accepted
If you are on the clock, then I don't see how you can own it. In addition you are using their hardware and resources. In many companies you would get fired for using company resources for private gain or to run your outside company.
answered Feb 4 '15 at 18:44
mhoran_psprep
40.3k462144
19
It doesn;t matter, if you do it on company time, it belongs to the company. If you wrote a private app that had nothing to do with the company buisiness on company time, they would own it in most legal jurisdictions. If you wrote a book on company time, they could take ownership of the copywrite. This is why you never under any circumstances do private work on company time. If you aren't busy, then study or find things to do for the company, but never try to profit from work you did on company time.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:08
7
The concept you are not getting is that you have free time when on the clock. It is not free time, the copmpany is paying for it.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:09
1
Even when writing an app in your own time, outside company time, some companies will claim copyright over the app. Although this would probably be specified in the employment contract, and heavily depends on the local laws.
– Paul Hiemstra
Feb 4 '15 at 20:54
1
Any "free time" on the clock is the company's free time. You didn't write it in your free time. You wrote it in the company's free time.
– nhgrif
Feb 5 '15 at 22:52
1
@CuriousWebDeveloper This answer is "wrong". It depends on the OPs contract (and local laws). It only depends on the OPs contract and local laws, actually. We don't know enough about the OPs contract - are all rights to all works assigned to the company? If not, on time or off, the OP may well own all copyright, which means the app is his/hers. Also means this whole question is out of scope...
– bharal
Feb 6 '15 at 1:23
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
17
down vote
accepted
up vote
17
down vote
accepted
If you are on the clock, then I don't see how you can own it. In addition you are using their hardware and resources. In many companies you would get fired for using company resources for private gain or to run your outside company.
answered Feb 4 '15 at 18:44
mhoran_psprep
40.3k462144
If you are on the clock, then I don't see how you can own it. In addition you are using their hardware and resources. In many companies you would get fired for using company resources for private gain or to run your outside company.
answered Feb 4 '15 at 18:44
mhoran_psprep
40.3k462144
answered Feb 4 '15 at 18:44
mhoran_psprep
40.3k462144
answered Feb 4 '15 at 18:44
mhoran_psprep
40.3k462144
answered Feb 4 '15 at 18:44
mhoran_psprep
40.3k462144
40.3k462144
19
It doesn;t matter, if you do it on company time, it belongs to the company. If you wrote a private app that had nothing to do with the company buisiness on company time, they would own it in most legal jurisdictions. If you wrote a book on company time, they could take ownership of the copywrite. This is why you never under any circumstances do private work on company time. If you aren't busy, then study or find things to do for the company, but never try to profit from work you did on company time.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:08
7
The concept you are not getting is that you have free time when on the clock. It is not free time, the copmpany is paying for it.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:09
1
Even when writing an app in your own time, outside company time, some companies will claim copyright over the app. Although this would probably be specified in the employment contract, and heavily depends on the local laws.
– Paul Hiemstra
Feb 4 '15 at 20:54
1
Any "free time" on the clock is the company's free time. You didn't write it in your free time. You wrote it in the company's free time.
– nhgrif
Feb 5 '15 at 22:52
1
@CuriousWebDeveloper This answer is "wrong". It depends on the OPs contract (and local laws). It only depends on the OPs contract and local laws, actually. We don't know enough about the OPs contract - are all rights to all works assigned to the company? If not, on time or off, the OP may well own all copyright, which means the app is his/hers. Also means this whole question is out of scope...
– bharal
Feb 6 '15 at 1:23
 |Â
show 4 more comments
19
It doesn;t matter, if you do it on company time, it belongs to the company. If you wrote a private app that had nothing to do with the company buisiness on company time, they would own it in most legal jurisdictions. If you wrote a book on company time, they could take ownership of the copywrite. This is why you never under any circumstances do private work on company time. If you aren't busy, then study or find things to do for the company, but never try to profit from work you did on company time.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:08
7
The concept you are not getting is that you have free time when on the clock. It is not free time, the copmpany is paying for it.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:09
1
Even when writing an app in your own time, outside company time, some companies will claim copyright over the app. Although this would probably be specified in the employment contract, and heavily depends on the local laws.
– Paul Hiemstra
Feb 4 '15 at 20:54
1
Any "free time" on the clock is the company's free time. You didn't write it in your free time. You wrote it in the company's free time.
– nhgrif
Feb 5 '15 at 22:52
1
@CuriousWebDeveloper This answer is "wrong". It depends on the OPs contract (and local laws). It only depends on the OPs contract and local laws, actually. We don't know enough about the OPs contract - are all rights to all works assigned to the company? If not, on time or off, the OP may well own all copyright, which means the app is his/hers. Also means this whole question is out of scope...
– bharal
Feb 6 '15 at 1:23
19
19
It doesn;t matter, if you do it on company time, it belongs to the company. If you wrote a private app that had nothing to do with the company buisiness on company time, they would own it in most legal jurisdictions. If you wrote a book on company time, they could take ownership of the copywrite. This is why you never under any circumstances do private work on company time. If you aren't busy, then study or find things to do for the company, but never try to profit from work you did on company time.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:08
It doesn;t matter, if you do it on company time, it belongs to the company. If you wrote a private app that had nothing to do with the company buisiness on company time, they would own it in most legal jurisdictions. If you wrote a book on company time, they could take ownership of the copywrite. This is why you never under any circumstances do private work on company time. If you aren't busy, then study or find things to do for the company, but never try to profit from work you did on company time.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:08
7
7
The concept you are not getting is that you have free time when on the clock. It is not free time, the copmpany is paying for it.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:09
The concept you are not getting is that you have free time when on the clock. It is not free time, the copmpany is paying for it.
– HLGEM
Feb 4 '15 at 19:09
1
1
Even when writing an app in your own time, outside company time, some companies will claim copyright over the app. Although this would probably be specified in the employment contract, and heavily depends on the local laws.
– Paul Hiemstra
Feb 4 '15 at 20:54
Even when writing an app in your own time, outside company time, some companies will claim copyright over the app. Although this would probably be specified in the employment contract, and heavily depends on the local laws.
– Paul Hiemstra
Feb 4 '15 at 20:54
1
1
Any "free time" on the clock is the company's free time. You didn't write it in your free time. You wrote it in the company's free time.
– nhgrif
Feb 5 '15 at 22:52
Any "free time" on the clock is the company's free time. You didn't write it in your free time. You wrote it in the company's free time.
– nhgrif
Feb 5 '15 at 22:52
1
1
@CuriousWebDeveloper This answer is "wrong". It depends on the OPs contract (and local laws). It only depends on the OPs contract and local laws, actually. We don't know enough about the OPs contract - are all rights to all works assigned to the company? If not, on time or off, the OP may well own all copyright, which means the app is his/hers. Also means this whole question is out of scope...
– bharal
Feb 6 '15 at 1:23
@CuriousWebDeveloper This answer is "wrong". It depends on the OPs contract (and local laws). It only depends on the OPs contract and local laws, actually. We don't know enough about the OPs contract - are all rights to all works assigned to the company? If not, on time or off, the OP may well own all copyright, which means the app is his/hers. Also means this whole question is out of scope...
– bharal
Feb 6 '15 at 1:23
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
4
down vote
If you do it in the time that you are paid for by the company, and using their equipment, then there is no doubt that your work is owned by the company. If you do these things when you are at home in your own free time (time at work where you are not busy isn't "free time"), then you need to read your employment contract and check the laws of your country.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 8:07
gnasher729
71k31131222
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
4
down vote
If you do it in the time that you are paid for by the company, and using their equipment, then there is no doubt that your work is owned by the company. If you do these things when you are at home in your own free time (time at work where you are not busy isn't "free time"), then you need to read your employment contract and check the laws of your country.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 8:07
gnasher729
71k31131222
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
If you do it in the time that you are paid for by the company, and using their equipment, then there is no doubt that your work is owned by the company. If you do these things when you are at home in your own free time (time at work where you are not busy isn't "free time"), then you need to read your employment contract and check the laws of your country.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 8:07
gnasher729
71k31131222
If you do it in the time that you are paid for by the company, and using their equipment, then there is no doubt that your work is owned by the company. If you do these things when you are at home in your own free time (time at work where you are not busy isn't "free time"), then you need to read your employment contract and check the laws of your country.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 8:07
gnasher729
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answered Feb 5 '15 at 8:07
gnasher729
71k31131222
answered Feb 5 '15 at 8:07
gnasher729
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answered Feb 5 '15 at 8:07
gnasher729
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71k31131222
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Google especially, and other companies, often call this 20% time (google's term). It is time the company uses to encourage employees to explore new areas, learn new skills, etc. Hopefully, something useful comes out of this, but not that isn't always the case.
Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week. As gnasher729 mentioned, company policy varies, but this is true of a lot of salaried creative positions.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 16:06
Bill Leeper
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"Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week." Uhh, no. I can vouch for the fact that this is not at all the case in many jurisdictions and that it is the case somewhere in the world (US?) is pretty messed up.
– Celos
Feb 6 '15 at 9:35
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up vote
1
down vote
Google especially, and other companies, often call this 20% time (google's term). It is time the company uses to encourage employees to explore new areas, learn new skills, etc. Hopefully, something useful comes out of this, but not that isn't always the case.
Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week. As gnasher729 mentioned, company policy varies, but this is true of a lot of salaried creative positions.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 16:06
Bill Leeper
10.7k2735
1
"Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week." Uhh, no. I can vouch for the fact that this is not at all the case in many jurisdictions and that it is the case somewhere in the world (US?) is pretty messed up.
– Celos
Feb 6 '15 at 9:35
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Google especially, and other companies, often call this 20% time (google's term). It is time the company uses to encourage employees to explore new areas, learn new skills, etc. Hopefully, something useful comes out of this, but not that isn't always the case.
Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week. As gnasher729 mentioned, company policy varies, but this is true of a lot of salaried creative positions.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 16:06
Bill Leeper
10.7k2735
Google especially, and other companies, often call this 20% time (google's term). It is time the company uses to encourage employees to explore new areas, learn new skills, etc. Hopefully, something useful comes out of this, but not that isn't always the case.
Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week. As gnasher729 mentioned, company policy varies, but this is true of a lot of salaried creative positions.
answered Feb 5 '15 at 16:06
Bill Leeper
10.7k2735
answered Feb 5 '15 at 16:06
Bill Leeper
10.7k2735
answered Feb 5 '15 at 16:06
Bill Leeper
10.7k2735
answered Feb 5 '15 at 16:06
Bill Leeper
10.7k2735
10.7k2735
1
"Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week." Uhh, no. I can vouch for the fact that this is not at all the case in many jurisdictions and that it is the case somewhere in the world (US?) is pretty messed up.
– Celos
Feb 6 '15 at 9:35
suggest improvements |Â
1
"Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week." Uhh, no. I can vouch for the fact that this is not at all the case in many jurisdictions and that it is the case somewhere in the world (US?) is pretty messed up.
– Celos
Feb 6 '15 at 9:35
1
1
"Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week." Uhh, no. I can vouch for the fact that this is not at all the case in many jurisdictions and that it is the case somewhere in the world (US?) is pretty messed up.
– Celos
Feb 6 '15 at 9:35
"Additionally, whenever you are "salaried" the company is buying you, the whole you, not just you for 40 hours a week." Uhh, no. I can vouch for the fact that this is not at all the case in many jurisdictions and that it is the case somewhere in the world (US?) is pretty messed up.
– Celos
Feb 6 '15 at 9:35
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I think some people on here are apt to assume that the boiler-plate on contracts fully describes reality. It does not unless there are seriously high stakes in play.
The fact is if you weren't paid or even asked to develop this thing, your company may very well NOT find it worthwhile and the question of who "owns it" becomes a waste of effort. The only thing they might care about is whether or not you were blowing their time on something they did not ask you to do.
As for you owning it, it all depends on what you do with it: how you sell/market this thing and whether or not it competes with or harms your employer and whether or not anyone at the company is actually watching or cares.
answered Feb 6 '15 at 1:09
teego1967
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up vote
1
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I think some people on here are apt to assume that the boiler-plate on contracts fully describes reality. It does not unless there are seriously high stakes in play.
The fact is if you weren't paid or even asked to develop this thing, your company may very well NOT find it worthwhile and the question of who "owns it" becomes a waste of effort. The only thing they might care about is whether or not you were blowing their time on something they did not ask you to do.
As for you owning it, it all depends on what you do with it: how you sell/market this thing and whether or not it competes with or harms your employer and whether or not anyone at the company is actually watching or cares.
answered Feb 6 '15 at 1:09
teego1967
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up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I think some people on here are apt to assume that the boiler-plate on contracts fully describes reality. It does not unless there are seriously high stakes in play.
The fact is if you weren't paid or even asked to develop this thing, your company may very well NOT find it worthwhile and the question of who "owns it" becomes a waste of effort. The only thing they might care about is whether or not you were blowing their time on something they did not ask you to do.
As for you owning it, it all depends on what you do with it: how you sell/market this thing and whether or not it competes with or harms your employer and whether or not anyone at the company is actually watching or cares.
answered Feb 6 '15 at 1:09
teego1967
10.3k42845
I think some people on here are apt to assume that the boiler-plate on contracts fully describes reality. It does not unless there are seriously high stakes in play.
The fact is if you weren't paid or even asked to develop this thing, your company may very well NOT find it worthwhile and the question of who "owns it" becomes a waste of effort. The only thing they might care about is whether or not you were blowing their time on something they did not ask you to do.
As for you owning it, it all depends on what you do with it: how you sell/market this thing and whether or not it competes with or harms your employer and whether or not anyone at the company is actually watching or cares.
answered Feb 6 '15 at 1:09
teego1967
10.3k42845
answered Feb 6 '15 at 1:09
teego1967
10.3k42845
answered Feb 6 '15 at 1:09
teego1967
10.3k42845
answered Feb 6 '15 at 1:09
teego1967
10.3k42845
10.3k42845
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The first thing you should check is your work contract, and the second place is the law of your country.
Some companies claim ownership to only those things they directly required from you. Some are claiming right to everything you've done in your 'professional domain', including your free-time projects, technical blogs or scientific research (I've once met such requirements, but I have no idea if they were legal).
There's no single answer, only local law system can answer that.
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The first thing you should check is your work contract, and the second place is the law of your country.
Some companies claim ownership to only those things they directly required from you. Some are claiming right to everything you've done in your 'professional domain', including your free-time projects, technical blogs or scientific research (I've once met such requirements, but I have no idea if they were legal).
There's no single answer, only local law system can answer that.
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
The first thing you should check is your work contract, and the second place is the law of your country.
Some companies claim ownership to only those things they directly required from you. Some are claiming right to everything you've done in your 'professional domain', including your free-time projects, technical blogs or scientific research (I've once met such requirements, but I have no idea if they were legal).
There's no single answer, only local law system can answer that.
The first thing you should check is your work contract, and the second place is the law of your country.
Some companies claim ownership to only those things they directly required from you. Some are claiming right to everything you've done in your 'professional domain', including your free-time projects, technical blogs or scientific research (I've once met such requirements, but I have no idea if they were legal).
There's no single answer, only local law system can answer that.
answered Feb 6 '15 at 8:02
user1023
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Depends what your contract says, and what legal jurisdiction you're in.
– A E
Feb 4 '15 at 23:50
Might be interesting to know that most of the answers also apply to schools/college/universities.
– Martijn
Feb 5 '15 at 13:55
I normally would have voted to close because if it was all done at home it depends on the contract and how it would withstand a legal review in that country. But it was done at the company, on the clock, using the company equipment.
– mhoran_psprep
Feb 5 '15 at 15:07
1
@bharal then why is there an ethics tag?
– CuriousWebDeveloper
Feb 6 '15 at 1:53
1
Your free time at work is not your free time -- your free time is when you are away from work, either at home, or at a library, or in a coffee shop, or wherever. (I once worked for a company many years ago that claimed they owned my software that I developed at home on my own time -- that was clearly out of bounds and I left the company and formed my own.)
– tcrosley
Feb 8 '15 at 18:35