[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Re: Call for lawyers: GPL Intelectual property protection



What Ben says is correct.  Here at Los Alamos, we have a similar clause
in our license.  Because people do stuff on their own time, we got some
advice about how to work on our own projects at home.  Basically, it
boils down to keeping a journal on your work at home.  Write down what
times you were working on your project (it's better here to include too
much time than too little--like, were you thinking about it over dinner?
May as well count that.) and what resources you used (ie. "desktop
computer") as well as what you did ("recompiled xbill").  Write
everything in ink.

Apparently, this is good enough to stand up in court, in the unlikely
event that you be taken there for recompiling xbill while employed by
Microsoft.

Hope this helps

Neale


Ben Pfaff writes:
> 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)


> -- 
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-devel-request@lists.debian.org
> with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org


Reply to: