Open Source Code In a Closed Source Company

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday February 5, 2008 @02:43PM from the finding-freedom-in-an-unfree-world dept.

An anonymous reader writes "I have code that I've written for my current company that I'd like to open-source. The only problem is that my company has the usual clause that says that anything I write belongs to them. Now that they've decided to abandon my code for another product that replaces its function, I'd like to continue working on my project as well as open it up to the world. The easy part is cleaning it up and posting it on SourceForge and Freshmeat. The hard part is making sure that I am free of any legal complications in the future. I've looked online to try to find a legal document I could present to my employer to get them to sign off on it, but I'm not having any luck. Has anyone else been in this boat or can refer me to some legal documentation that may help out?"

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You work... by sean22190 · 2008-02-05 14:52 · Score: 0, Flamebait

for a closed source company?!? No help for you!
Re:why by mcmonkey · 2008-02-05 15:02 · Score: 0, Flamebait

[why] are you asking people from Slashdot. Why don't you approach your company and ask them what they think?
Because AC is asking Slashdot how to best approach the company.

And again, why ask Slashdot? Why not start with a forum or usenet group dedicated to the language the code is in or the license he wants to release under?
If the OP is not a regular /. reader, it's rude to just pop in and expect us to help you. If the OP is a regular /. reader, then he/she should have figured out, if there are two subjects on which /. is void of useful/informed advice, then those subjects are the law and intellectual property. The OP is 0 for 2.
Next question.