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Copyright ownership

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txrandom

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I'm studying computer science and imagine I'll be doing some programming at work after graduating. I was talking with a coworker at my internship about copyright ownership over code I write at work.

Assume I don't sign a contract giving them ownership to all the code. Although are these types of contracts even enforceable?

I'm assigned a project at work that involves writing some sort of application. Can I keep a personal copy of the code? If I subsequently quit, can I sell application with the exact same code? Can I sell the application after recoding it from scratch?

I decide to build an application at work that helps me with a particular task but not necessarily directly for the company. Can I keep a personal copy of the code? If I subsequently quit, can I sell application with the exact same code? Can I sell the application after recoding it from scratch?
 
As an employee, writing on the job, unless your employer has an agreement with you that states otherwise, your work products generally belong to the company.
 
Originally posted by: txrandom
Originally posted by: Newbian
Check your contract carefully.

More then likely it's in there somewhere.
Click to expand...

Assume I don't sign a contract giving them ownership to all the code.
Click to expand...

If you are getting paid to do work then more then likely they own it even if you didn't sign anything since they are paying for it.
 
So if I write code for my employer, they would most like retain copyrights to it.

What if I was an independent contractor and a company said, "We want an application that does x y z." Do they own it or does my corporation (myself) own it.
 
It would depend on the contracts either you or the company signs.

If you were independent and never signed anything then it would fall under your ownership until they bought the code for themselves.
 
Originally posted by: txrandom
So if I write code for my employer, they would most like retain copyrights to it.

What if I was an independent contractor and a company said, "We want an application that does x y z." Do they own it or does my corporation (myself) own it.
Click to expand...

If you are a contractor you have a contract that spells it out. If the contract offered to you is silent, have something added before signing. Expect to get paid less for the job if you retain copyright.
 
Normally I always keep a copy at home and at work of any code I do for work. I would not go and sell it or anything but depending on what the app is I may make it available to public or use it myself.

Though it really depends on the size of the app. If this is something that is huge and a vital part of the company's operations I would simply just ask to be safe.
 
I'm always looking at old code I've written for examples. I'm gonna be quitting my first real job next week and I feel terrible about losing all of that knowledge I gained.
 
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