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Ask HN: What is your company's policy regarding side-projects?

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Ask HN: What is your company's policy regarding side-projects?

#1

Post by shubhamjain »

I realised today that Google has a separate committee [1] from which the employee needs permission if she wants to continue working on the personal project and also retain the copyright. Otherwise, Google owns any IP created while you're at the company.

How liberal is your company regarding personal projects?

[1]: https://opensource.google.com/docs/iarc/

Re: Ask HN: What is your company's policy regarding side-projects?

#2

Post by telebone_man »

I won't copy paste the terms, but they say any employee can do what they like, as long as it doesn't utilise the resources of the business (which are defined as equipment, offices, money, time etc.).

And if it does, then the business operates a 'first-refusal' policy. In cases where the business has decided to utilise the side-project, this is normally combined with financial compensation in some form (a salary raise, a bonus, something like that).

FYI, I'm in the UK (midlands). I think this is quite a liberal approach compared to most. But it seems to motivate staff to think outside the box in the interests of the business.

Re: Ask HN: What is your company's policy regarding side-projects?

#3

Post by Swinx43 »

telebone_man wrote: post #2

I won't copy paste the terms, but they say any employee can do what they like, as long as it doesn't utilise the resources of the business (which are defined as equipment, offices, money, time etc.). And if it does, then the business operates a 'first-refusal' policy. In cases where the business has decided to utilise the side-project, this is normally combined with financial compensation in some form (a salary raise…

That is fantastic to hear! I am also in the UK and every single contract I have signed was accompanied with clauses basically stating that the company owns anything I create while I am employed by them. This includes anything outside of work as well. I believe this is the standard terms for UK contracts. I was lucky in getting my current employer to add an addendum to my contract giving me certain exclusions to this clause, it was however a process to get it past their legal department.

Re: Ask HN: What is your company's policy regarding side-projects?

#4

Post by martin_a »

General rule for Germany is, that your employer must allow you to have a job besides your main job.

This does probably not really fit to what we understand as "side projects" but if you are making serious money and invest time in it, you´ll have to talk to your employer.

Employers will most likely do not allow it, if it´s very time consuming (you need to be fit your main job) or very related to your main job (say: freelancing graphic design while working for a design agency).

I found that it really depends on the employer and there is no general rule.

Re: Ask HN: What is your company's policy regarding side-projects?

#6

Post by corobo »

Previous company was essentially "We own everything you create whether during work or not" I think my contract was worded in a way that meant technically speaking any ideas I had while under their employment belong to them too. I'm not sure how they'd have enforced it, but was unwilling to challenge it.

Major part of my reasoning to leave. I left with a fair bit of leverage due to an unrelated matter so managed to secure all the rights to my side project on the way out.

Current job - don't compete directly with us and don't let it get in the way of your work and we're cool with whatever.

Re: Ask HN: What is your company's policy regarding side-projects?

#7

Post by rosbrith »

Swinx43 wrote: post #3
telebone_man wrote: post #2

I won't copy paste the terms, but they say any employee can do what they like, as long as it doesn't utilise the resources of the business (which are defined as equipment, offices, money, time etc.). And if it does, then the business operates a 'first-refusal' policy. In cases where the business has decided to utilise the side-project, this is normally combined with financial compensation in some form (a salary raise…

That is fantastic to hear! I am also in the UK and every single contract I have signed was accompanied with clauses basically stating that the company owns anything I create while I am employed by them. This includes anything outside of work as well. I believe this is the standard terms for UK contracts. I was lucky in getting my current employer to add an addendum to my contract giving me certain exclusions to this…

Mine (also UK) is similar to what you describe, minus your addendum. It makes reference to agreeing that inventions (new software, I imagine) developed during the course of my employment must be made available to the company for its use. I've never known the company to call anyone out on this.
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