Live data from Hacker News

Employed with a side of startup

blog.asmartbear.com

1–10 of 34 posts

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#2
"I work on my hobby only at home and on my own time; it is not in conflict with my employee agreement. I own it; [Company] has no ownership or rights to it."

That may or may not be true, depending on the employee agreement. Many of the ones that I've seen give the corporation ownership rights to any software developed by the employee, even at home and on their own time.

Check this before you start.

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#3
Great bit from the article:

"If they decide to sue, they get to look through your email records (it's called "discovery"). Then they have 100 emails you sent during work hours. You lose."

Weird. I submitted this article but my submission has now disappeared and it's now on front page under bhousel? Probably just a coincidence?

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#4
post #3

Great bit from the article: "If they decide to sue, they get to look through your email records (it's called "discovery"). Then they have 100 emails you sent during work hours. You lose." Weird. I submitted this article but my submission has now disappeared and it's now on front page under bhousel? Probably just a coincidence?

Maybe we both submitted, but yours had a slightly different URL?

I've noticed that when I click on links from a feed reader, it adds a bunch of params to the end of the URL. I always strip off the extra stuff and submit only the base URL.

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#5

"I work on my hobby only at home and on my own time; it is not in conflict with my employee agreement. I own it; [Company] has no ownership or rights to it." That may or may not be true, depending on the employee agreement. Many of the ones that I've seen give the corporation ownership rights to any software developed by the employee, even at home and on their own time. Check this before you start.

Most states limit the reach of IP agreements. In Illinois, for instance, I was once presented with an employment agreement that included an IP clause like that. I looked into the law and found out that it wasn't enforceable in IL. I quite the job because I thought the people who sprung that on us were fucking loons.

My current company (Condé Nast) has a shockingly fair IP agreement compared to other large corps.

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#6
post #4
post #3

Great bit from the article: "If they decide to sue, they get to look through your email records (it's called "discovery"). Then they have 100 emails you sent during work hours. You lose." Weird. I submitted this article but my submission has now disappeared and it's now on front page under bhousel? Probably just a coincidence?

Maybe we both submitted, but yours had a slightly different URL? I've noticed that when I click on links from a feed reader, it adds a bunch of params to the end of the URL. I always strip off the extra stuff and submit only the base URL.

Yeah, maybe, but it's completely gone from my submissions list. No biggie. I think it's a great article and HN seems to agree.

allenbrunson: That's definitely it. I didn't know it behaved that way. I'm a little disappointed that it wasn't something more sinister... muhahaha muhahaha!! Oh well. Good info. Thanks!

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#7
One reason I love working for my current employer is he really cares not a jot about what we do on the side (and even if it leaches into the day job at times).

Actually he'd even part funding a current pet project of mine :)

It's at the point where I dont even have a contract any more because of the limitations it actually put on our relationship (note: not generally recommended - before everyone sprays tea/coffee on the keyboard)

You just have to find out if your employer is going to be a douche or not - and if not then be open about what your up to.

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#8
post #6
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe we both submitted, but yours had a slightly different URL? I've noticed that when I click on links from a feed reader, it adds a bunch of params to the end of the URL. I always strip off the extra stuff and submit only the base URL.

Yeah, maybe, but it's completely gone from my submissions list. No biggie. I think it's a great article and HN seems to agree. allenbrunson: That's definitely it. I didn't know it behaved that way. I'm a little disappointed that it wasn't something more sinister... muhahaha muhahaha!! Oh well. Good info. Thanks!

sounds to me like you hit the dupe detector. if you submit a URL that has already been submitted, news.yc takes you to the previous submission and votes it up on your behalf.

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#9
"If they decide to sue, they get to look through your email records (it's called "discovery"). Then they have 100 emails you sent during work hours. You lose."

The simple solution that PG has recommended in the past is to rewrite all the code. Does that protect you from the above?

Re: Employed with a side of startup

#10
post #9

"If they decide to sue, they get to look through your email records (it's called "discovery"). Then they have 100 emails you sent during work hours. You lose." The simple solution that PG has recommended in the past is to rewrite all the code. Does that protect you from the above?

No. You still invested your employers resources in your business.
Post reply on HN