Comments on: Startup ABC’s – Pre-Startup IP Issues http://www.robhyndman.com/2008/11/21/startup-abcs-pre-startup-ip-issues/ any technology distinguishable from magic is not sufficiently advanced Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Staffing – Employee vs. Independent Contractors | robhyndman.com http://www.robhyndman.com/2008/11/21/startup-abcs-pre-startup-ip-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-85796 Staffing – Employee vs. Independent Contractors | robhyndman.com Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:01:41 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/?p=2873#comment-85796 [...] The default rules in Canada concerning who owns the intellectual property created for the company treat employees and [...] [...] The default rules in Canada concerning who owns the intellectual property created for the company treat employees and [...]

]]> By: Jason Cohen http://www.robhyndman.com/2008/11/21/startup-abcs-pre-startup-ip-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-85527 Jason Cohen Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:32:26 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/?p=2873#comment-85527 Great points. In my opinion the best way to CYA is to <a href="http://blog.asmartbear.com/blog/starting-up-while-employed-admit-it.html" rel="nofollow">be honest with your employer</a> about your work on the side. Just stating what you'll be doing and getting it approved in writing removes most of the legal and social problems. And if the boss declines, that's important too. If you were to have done this it's quite possible you would have been sued. Not worth it. Great points. In my opinion the best way to CYA is to be honest with your employer about your work on the side.

Just stating what you’ll be doing and getting it approved in writing removes most of the legal and social problems.

And if the boss declines, that’s important too. If you were to have done this it’s quite possible you would have been sued. Not worth it.

]]> By: Rob Hyndman http://www.robhyndman.com/2008/11/21/startup-abcs-pre-startup-ip-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-85490 Rob Hyndman Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:08:02 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/?p=2873#comment-85490 Thanks for the comment, Mark. That's probably the #1 comment I hear from employers. To be fair, I hear that from employers regardless of their industry - it's a rare business these days that doesn't expect a serious commitment from its people. Thanks for the comment, Mark. That’s probably the #1 comment I hear from employers. To be fair, I hear that from employers regardless of their industry – it’s a rare business these days that doesn’t expect a serious commitment from its people.

]]> By: Mark MacLeod http://www.robhyndman.com/2008/11/21/startup-abcs-pre-startup-ip-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-85489 Mark MacLeod Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:43:42 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/?p=2873#comment-85489 Great post. This is a complex issue. I am sympathetic to the fact that people who want to start their own companies are not independently wealthy and hence likely work on their new venture while being employed for someone else. Still, as an employer, I expect team members to be focused 100% on our company. And as a startup looking to deliver big returns to its investors, we need serious commitment from all our team members. It's human nature. If you have a sideline and are hoping to start your own thing, you will focus a lot of energy on it. As an employer, I can't have that. The best thing is to immediately before your employer exits, if you have worked on something unrelated and want to ensure you have free right to explore it down the road, get a release from your CEO - before that CEO becomes an employee of your acquirer. Great post. This is a complex issue. I am sympathetic to the fact that people who want to start their own companies are not independently wealthy and hence likely work on their new venture while being employed for someone else. Still, as an employer, I expect team members to be focused 100% on our company. And as a startup looking to deliver big returns to its investors, we need serious commitment from all our team members. It’s human nature. If you have a sideline and are hoping to start your own thing, you will focus a lot of energy on it. As an employer, I can’t have that.

The best thing is to immediately before your employer exits, if you have worked on something unrelated and want to ensure you have free right to explore it down the road, get a release from your CEO – before that CEO becomes an employee of your acquirer.

]]> By: » Weekend Reading - November 22, 2008 | StartupNorth http://www.robhyndman.com/2008/11/21/startup-abcs-pre-startup-ip-issues/comment-page-1/#comment-85487 » Weekend Reading - November 22, 2008 | StartupNorth Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:05:08 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/?p=2873#comment-85487 [...] Who owns this thing? Starting a company? Read Rob Hyndman’s guide to pre-startup IP issues. [...] [...] Who owns this thing? Starting a company? Read Rob Hyndman’s guide to pre-startup IP issues. [...]

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