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Company Ownership of Employee Ideas

Posted by michael on from the 0wned dept.

Anonymous Coward writes "Alcatel USA Inc. filed a lawsuit, and won, in a bid to claim proprietary rights for a software idea of one of its former employees, Evan Brown. Evan signed a invention disclosure agreement with his former employers but what makes this case unusual is that Evan never wrote anything down with regards to his idea, meaning that Alcatel seems to be claiming rights to an idea in his head. Does this mean your thoughts may belong to your company? Maybe...." This story has been kicking around for a few days but this is the first legal analysis I've seen of it. Watch what you sign! J adds: see also recent TR story and our 1999 story.

2 of 421 comments (clear)

  1. funny by linuxislandsucks · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Funny, this inventor inveted things before joining that company.. so he should have known to ducment his works right?

    So ah why not document an inevntion done on your own time as his claim?

    this is a concept of the keetle calling something black..

    --
    Don't Tread on OpenSource
  2. For a technical genius, this guy wasn't too bright by xidix · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    First, he signed a contract without fully understanding the terms or consulting with a lawyer to explain it to him. When you go about the business of selling your soul, you really need to read the fine print.

    Second, he went to the company and told them he had a brilliant idea, even though he hadn't put anything down on paper yet. He should've just quit his job, then developed his idea. There would have been no way for the company to prove that he came up with the idea while he was employed by them.

    By the way, this guy may have a beautiful mind, but he sure has an ugly webpage.