Tagged Questions
4
votes
2answers
120 views
How do I prove that its all my IP
I'm involved in a deal where an industry organization is attempting to white label my software. Their Chairperson is a lawyer, so they are cautious on the legal stuff. They want to be absolutely sure ...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
Developing a product/service as a result of requirements of existing employer
A is currently employed at company X which in turn is a vendor for company Z. A realized that certain aspects of running the business for Z which X is failing at can be productized/offered as a ...
7
votes
6answers
361 views
Sticky IP situation
We are in a sticky situation, that is no ones fault but our own. We had approached a developer to join our startup. After showing him the project he was excited and decided to join. Our mistake was ...
12
votes
1answer
335 views
There's a troll in my space - now what?
I've spent the last 3 months full-time building an alpha version of a web app, and developing a business plan for it. The alpha version is ready to launch. Recently I've stumbled upon the fact that ...
1
vote
2answers
115 views
building an application at work, want to spin it into a business
I am building a custom sales portal at my place of employment, a large company. I would like to start a saas business that uses the same features I am building for the custom project at work. I want ...
1
vote
2answers
37 views
Implementation partners-protecting source code
I have an existing SAAS platform and I am in the process of working with multiple implementation partners or vendors for some enhancements. How do I make sure my source code is protected? Some of ...
0
votes
3answers
115 views
Does the company own all my ideas?
A company has the following contract.
http://www.uploadimage.in/di/93QO/one.png
http://www.uploadimage.in/di/N8UR/two.png
Does this mean if one is working on something in their free time while ...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
Is an open source prototype a bad idea?
I'm building a prototype for a web/mobile application. The goal is to collect user generated content, let user rate it while at the same time being entertained and do something interesting with it. If ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Legal issues of a user-pic based app?
I'm planning on creating a mobile app based upon the idea of allowing users to take self-portraits and having it shared in a dynamic public gallery (for say, dating purposes, or whatnot). Let's also ...
2
votes
2answers
174 views
Terms of agreement with a co-founder after split-up
I recently quit working with my co-founder. We had started a software business together and had agreed on a certain profit share. But shortly after the launch of the apps, we had to split because he ...
0
votes
2answers
169 views
Is internship considered as “work-for-hire” in the US? Who owns the software intellectual property rights created by an intern with no contract?
I was an intern in a small furniture company for over year where I had an idea to develop an integrated software solution that would help any company of the same type get organized. A verbal agreement ...
4
votes
1answer
213 views
Should I get investors to sign an NDA before sharing my idea?
I have an idea for a company and I want to share it with potential investors. I'm a bit concerned about my ability to protect the idea. Should I get them to sign an NDA? Would that scare investors ...
3
votes
1answer
184 views
How have University IP licensing terms for tech startups changed since Google licensed PageRank from Stanford?
What were the details of the IP licensing agreement between Google and Stanford for PageRank?
For example, what PERCENTAGE equity and royalty rate did Google give to Stanford? Were there ...
6
votes
5answers
399 views
Startup project - hide from employer or cooperate with him?
I am a software developer. I have a good idea and I'd like to create a startup. I am planning to invite one or two of my colleagues as co-founders.
I am concerned about the relationships with my ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
Can employers claim intellectual property even if employee has an LLC? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
If I'm working at a company, do they have intellectual property rights to the stuff I do in my spare time?
I have my own LLC. I created it during my time of ...
1
vote
3answers
84 views
Legality of usage of Competitor's Scripting Language
We have a software which supports scripting. One of our main competitors has a software which works in the same way.
I wonder if it is legal for our software to support their properiatery scripting ...
2
votes
3answers
205 views
Ownership of IP developed while employed
I'm a 3d software developer working for a manufacturing company on industrial visualization software programs. In the future, I wish to develop 2d/3d games, mapping applications during my free time.
...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
How to avoid idea “contamination” when soliciting advice on a product
We've got a software product going into alpha release and want to invite some super users to test and give feedback. I wonder if there's any sort of steps we should be taking to prevent the issue of ...
3
votes
4answers
227 views
Partnership Gone Bad
For the past 6 months or so I have been working on a project with 2 partners. Here's the breakdown:
Partner 1: Finance, marketing, sales, legal
Partner 2: Product dev, design, branding
Me: Tech, ...
0
votes
2answers
133 views
Licensed software and due diligence: sufficient?
In the process of due diligence for an investment or for M&A, I ask:
Considering that all other software is property of the company, is it sufficient to have a non-core part of the software, ...
1
vote
1answer
128 views
Side projects while being a co-founder and officer of a company
There is already an awesome question and answers on IP and spare time related to employees:
If I'm working at a company, do they have intellectual property rights to the stuff I do in my spare ...
0
votes
2answers
115 views
IP: Maintain property over source code
I have code of mine, developed before joining the company as a co-founder, that I used for the company product (website) but want to retain the copyright and all IP rights to it and to be able to use ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
How do I get an IP Lawyer as an Advisor
My pre-seed technology startup has developed unique IP which needs protection. The industry we're targeting is run by giants (with tons of IP), so the IP story will play a key-role on the startup. ...
2
votes
2answers
103 views
Which Country is Suitable for Legal Protection in Game Automation Software Development
After reading today's Gamasutra article about Jagex vs Impulse Software, and considering my own academic activities, I suddenly became very concerned with my legal protection.
As such I would like ...
1
vote
2answers
446 views
court precedence on California labor code section 2870
Does anybody know of any actual court cases involving California labor code section 2870 which gives a clear precedence as to how judges would rule in such disputes
(eg. a programmer makes something ...
1
vote
2answers
240 views
Interpreting Invention Assignment: what does “is not related” to the company's business mean in employment contracts?
I'm talking about those Invention Assignment clauses in employment contracts (especially with regards to California labor code section 2870)
"Prohibiting employee assignment to an employer of ...
3
votes
3answers
362 views
Creative solution for copyright infringement by UK university
This question is sort of a follow up to:
Creating non-profit startup from open-source software project
Selling using the honor system
Basically, I'm selling software on the honor system for $5 to ...
1
vote
1answer
96 views
Intellectual Property and Day Jobs
I run a small tech company providing custom web development (in Ontario, Canada), and I have a few clients. However, as I am still a student in university, I have co-op positions that I take every ...
1
vote
3answers
75 views
Where does the rights to the software lies when I've used them in the company?
I've developed an authoring tool for games and also a player that plays them on Android.
One year ago I founded a company with friends and we've published some really cool games by using the engine ...
6
votes
1answer
264 views
Our client wants ownership of the code + no competition clause, but we need to re-sell this program in order to make money. How do we compromise?
TL;DR: "A client contracts us to build the engine for Warcraft I, does client have right to stop us using the same engine for let's say.... Skyrim?" (No contracts have been signed YET)
Actual ...
2
votes
3answers
135 views
Intellectual Property for similar software with 2 different clients
I run a business developing my own software that I license out, but also coding projects for businesses at hourly rate. So clients employ me as a contractor to do this.
Many of these projects are ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
User Elected Image Copyrights
Environment:
Our project allows teachers to create learning objects (activities, lessons, videos) that may incorporate uploaded images for the purpose of language learning. Our EULA states that ...
1
vote
4answers
950 views
Where to find a template for a general-purpose Independent Contractor Agreement?
We want to hire some freelancers in the US, Germany, Russia and Japan.
The book "The Business of iPhone App Development" from Apress references an Imdependent Contractor Agreement template. The goal ...
1
vote
3answers
510 views
Forced to sign intellectual property agreement or be terminated after 4 years of service
I have worked for a small 25 employee non-profit in the US for the past 4 years. About 9 months ago, I identified some deficiencies within the company in the areas of data management and ...
3
votes
1answer
327 views
No employer contract, what IP rights do I have?
Ive been employeed by an Advertising agency for coming up on 3 years now as a web developer. Prior to my employment I was a subcontractor hired by this same agency for about 3 years. I have had many ...
19
votes
6answers
989 views
Teammates have pushed me out of our venture. What to do now?
I along with 3 other people created a concept for an innovative Ecommerce platform as part of a 5 week startup pre-incubator. We had a great run and on demo day we won the audience and panel of ...
1
vote
2answers
200 views
How do I get a trademark on a logo and slogan when I have no money?
I have an idea for two great logos and slogans that I would sell to two different companies if I could afford to get them secured through a reputable attorney. I have an attorney in mind. Is it a good ...
1
vote
3answers
131 views
Developer IP and personal Coding
My friend and I recently started our own service company. Since we have no technical background, we found a development guy to join our team. We ended up filing for an LLC two months afterwards (we ...
9
votes
5answers
2k views
If I pitch my idea to a company, what are my rights?
I recently came up with what I believe is a great idea which builds on a specific technology already existing in the marketplace. I believe it represents a completely new use for the technology and ...
3
votes
2answers
88 views
Confidentiality Agreements for innovative uses of commercial software
I have a startup music business where I can produce, but am not limited to, an entire 18-piece big-band ala Hoyt Curtin ("The Jetsons", "Flintstones" etc.) overnight without any recording expenses to ...
2
votes
3answers
244 views
If the agreement states IP is owned by the Consultant, is there any room for disagreement?
I am in the process to send a service agreement to my clients. I am stating that Intellectual Property related to all promotional material created while in the service agreement by my company will be ...
2
votes
3answers
304 views
Remote employee in China?
My niche software developing startup needs specialist developers. I have located an individual in China with proven experience in my field. How can I best go about working with him?
I can't employ ...
7
votes
2answers
449 views
Intellectual Property Suicide Pill
I'm planning a new software company that will license software to businesses. A lot of R&D will be needed to create the software and indeed, our codebase will be our biggest asset. Unfortunately ...
4
votes
3answers
271 views
How do you prove a computer-generated work was independently generated by you?
This question is related to one of my earlier posts about the ability to copyright sudokus. I have written a program that generates sudokus and I want to make a website with these sudokus. It seems ...
4
votes
2answers
179 views
Copyright/IP of sudokus
I have recently learned how to do constraint processing and I figured out how to generate sudoku puzzles. I thought it would be interesting/fun to create an interactive website for these puzzles. I ...
1
vote
2answers
132 views
Legality of using idea developed while a consultant
Before I go ahead on put much effort into a startup idea I have, I wanted to know if anyone could direct me to legal resources/opinions on using ideas developed while consulting for a company as the ...
1
vote
2answers
148 views
What are the legalities concerning supporting open source software?
For the last couple months, I have been building small HTPCs with a variety of software on them, tailored to what my customers (so far just my friends) want.
There is a market there, but I'm ...
0
votes
1answer
393 views
How to minimize risk of software copyright infringement claims
I had a software developer create a software program, which I copyrighted and then assigned to a software company (and LLC) that I co-founded. I plan to sell the program to the general public.
Then ...
1
vote
2answers
121 views
Disputes in startup
hi i had a friend of mine, we worked on a idea, now my friend is not interested to work with me and he is looking for someone else.However the idea was conceived by me. Can i shake off hands and go ...
0
votes
2answers
271 views
Would I have to patent my computer systems in order to produce them and sell them to markets?
Would I have to patent my computer systems (such as desktops and laptops) in order to produce them and sell them to markets? Similar to Dell and HP would operate.
