Ask HN: How can I work towards building a company while employed? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How can I work towards building a company while employed?

#191

Post by nondoerexcuses » Tue, May 28, 2019, 7:00 PM UTC

ilaksh wrote: post #72

The clauses I have seen attempt to claim all intellectual work regardless of when it was done or whether it was related to the job. To me, this is an indication that we truly have not progressed beyond wage slavery. I believe such clauses should be illegal. I think one thing we might be able to do is to create a list of companies that have blanket clauses like this and then some people (not most) will have the luxury…

In my personal experience of 20 years, these clauses are meaningless. I know several people who not only left companies and started their own businesses but also became competitor to their former employers. No one ever got in trouble. In fact, a famous Magento shop in DFW area was started this way.

Well there is one lady who got sued because she took her clients with her to a new firm. Didn't start a new company though.

But I have noticed that non-doers love to use this as an excuse to do nothing. In every happy hour/lunch, there is at least one person talking about a great idea but they not gonna do it because their evil employer made them sign bunch of documents. You tell these documents hold a little weight in court and they should go talk to a lawyer, they might agree but never will talk to a lawyer. Next happy hour they are complaining about same thing.

And if you tell them about your side business, they will do their best to scare you.

I work for major tech giant, and openly advertise my business on LinkedIn, resume, carry business cards. No issues so far. I don't talk about it at work or with non-doers.

Re: Ask HN: How can I work towards building a company while employed?

#192

Post by perlpimp » Wed, May 29, 2019, 12:51 PM UTC

How do I participate in pioneer.app ? Tried logging on and it did not work.

Re: Ask HN: How can I work towards building a company while employed?

#193

Post by saluki » Wed, May 29, 2019, 9:01 PM UTC

jchw wrote: post #125

tenaciousDaniel wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm kind of mind-blown reading this thread. Right now I'm working on a product of my own, and I'm currently employed. The product has absolutely-zero-nada-nothing to do with what my company does, I do it on my own time, with my own money, with my own machine. Are you saying that I still may not be legally in the clear? If so, that is incredibly insane, and I can't believe clauses like that actually exist. Not sure ho…

Even if you are legally in the clear, your company’s lawyers could still try to fight for it anyways. Make sure you Never use company resources, and next time, consider getting a copyright assignment exemption before beginning work. The reality is that it probably isn’t really likely all companies are out to steal your personal work through dubious copyright assignment agreements, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t…

Not a lawyer but I would probably just keep all side projects on the down low, don't draw attention by asking for a copyright assignment exemption, don't develop it at work or even log in via a company pc or phone. Don't mention it to co-workers. Keep your name off of it on the public side. Keep it anonymous. I expect you could even use a 'pen name' if you wanted to, if you need to be visible, do podcasts, etc.

Most of your side projects aren't going to amount to anything anyway but if you keep it anonymous the chances of your company approaching you about it after you leave are very small. Even if it turns in to a success.