Modifying Employment Agreements?

An anonymous reader asks: "I am starting a new job, after months of unemployment. While out of work, I started a technology related business. I do not believe there is a conflict in the services provided by this business and the job I am taking. As has been standard with previous employers, I have been asked to sign an agreement that states in part that I am to disclose to the company anything that I create wether or not during company time, and wether or not it relates to the company. I also must agree that these same creations or inventions become the sole property of the company. I would like to change the wording to only include those creations, inventions and other Intellectual Property that is the direct result of work performed for the company, involved use of company property, and/or was created or invented during paid hours spent working for the company. What success or failure have other Slashdot readers had when dealing with wide reaching employment agreements such as this? How did you approach management with your modifications?"

Comments

What's the company name?

[EriDay]

Sounds like they're going to have an opening.

Anything you create?

[Boing]

You could just teach them the error of their over-litigious ways by giving them the "rights" to the next thing you "create" after some cheap mexican food and seven cups of coffee.

Re:Anything you create?

[Waffle Iron]

Most companies expect to receive these creations. In fact, the practice is so common that you usually see elaborate fixtures for collecting them in every office. Every employer I've had has accepted these submissions, but I honestly don't know what they do with them after they've been dropped off in the fixtures. I suspect that they really don't want to deal with this stuff and it just gets shipped offsite somewhere.

3 other words

[buus]

and a pony.... I want a pony as well. I think you are about as likely to get a pony as you are to get a change in the standard employment agreement.

Re:I Just said No

[Shut the fuck up!]

When faced with the same situation about 5 years ago, I simply said "I'm not going to sign this".

1999 called. It said things were different then.

Re:3 words: HIRE A LAWYER.

[Sneftel]

Really? I once had this guy working for me who was such a friggin' tool, he went on this weeklong crusade to find a booklet of rules to follow. Luckily, he left on his own, so I didn't have to can his ass.

Re:3 words: HIRE A LAWYER.

[nolife]

In your off time, create a bunch of viruses. If you get caught, you can tell them the real legal owner is your company and you created them under contract for your company. You'll see how quick that section of the contract is suddenly determined to mean something else. Same holds true for the services like Yahoo, MSN, Geocities etc.. that claim (or used to claim) to own all posts, pictures, and material you put on their servers and forums.

A contract is a TWO WAY agreement. This company must accept the good with the bad unless otherwise noted in the contrct.