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How to protect Intellectual Property from new employer (midwest.social)

submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by MNByChoice@midwest.social to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Pretty sure I will be asking a lawyer, but I want to learn more words and concepts first.

A possible new job wants to own any intellectual property I create and wants me to declare anything I want to keep as my own. This seems normal in my industry as they will be paying me to do some thinking.

Issue is that I have a number of ideas I have been developing. I am going to float some of them as products in my own time, though this may be years from now. Most of these are outside the current market for the company as far as I know.

How is this typically handled? I presume I don't need to have copyrights or trademarks prior and can just list tentative titles.

I am also a little unclear on the spread between "intellectual property" and "an idea I am playing with".

Thoughts? Concepts to investigate?

Edit: I did Internet search this, but I have not found working keywords.

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[-] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 8 months ago

I would imagine writing down all of your ideas and a brief description, having them notarized, and keeping them sealed away somewhere for safe keeping would cover your grounds pretty well, and doing it that route would mean you wouldn't have to disclose anything to someone who may have the idea to steal or "borrow" from any of your ideas.

It would be pretty hard for a company to claim you came up with something on their time when you have a notarized dated copy proving you had it before starting.

[-] MNByChoice@midwest.social 6 points 8 months ago

I like this idea, especially combined with talking with a lawyer. Thank you

this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2024

129 points (97.1% liked)

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