Re: Call for lawyers: GPL Intelectual property protection

[Ben Pfaff <pfaffben@pilot.msu.edu>]

Hamish Moffatt <hamish@debian.org> writes:


   It reads to me like anything at all you do while being employed by Microsoft,
   if at all related to Microsoft's business (ie software), even if developed
   completely in your own time, on your own hardware, at your own cost,
   not using any secrets learnt at Microsoft, they still have a right to
   that work. This seems to mean they would have license to the code if
   they wanted it, and you have to keep records, designs, drawings etc,
   of it for them. Even if the software is GPL, you as author have the right
   to issue it also under another license, and they could force you to do that.

No, read the second paragraph of that clause again:

   The previous paragraph of this Agreement does not apply to any invention for
   which no equipment, supplies, facility, or trade secret information of the
   Company or Client was used and which was developed entirely on Employee's own
   time, and (a) which does not relate to the business of the Company or Client
   or to the Company's or Client's actual or demonstrably anticipated research or
   development, or (b) which does not result from any work performed for the
   Company or Client.

If he's careful not to do development on Microsoft's machines or on
Microsoft's time, he should be okay.
-- 
SIGSIGV: Sigmentation fault (core dumped)