Ask Slashdot: Handling Patented IP In a Job Interview?

ZahrGnosis writes I'm in the midst of a rather lengthy job interview; something I haven't done for some time as I've worked as a contract employee with a much lower barrier to entry for years. Recently, I've started patenting some inventions that are applicable to my industry. One hope is that the patents look good to the prospective employer on a resume, but I don't want them to take the existing IP for granted as part of the deal. I'm worried I have the wrong attitude, however. My question is, how should I treat licensing of the patent as a topic with respect to the topic of my employment? Should I build the use of my patented ideas into my salary? Should I explicitly refuse to implement my patented IP for the company without a separate licensing fee? If I emphasize the patent during the interviews without the intent to give them the IP for free, is that an ethical lapse — a personal false advertising? At the same time, when I work for a company I feel they should get the benefit of my full expertise... am I holding back something I shouldn't by not granting a de-facto license while I work for them? I perceive a fine balance between being confrontational and helpful, while not wanting to jeopardize the job prospect nor restrict my ability to capitalize on my invention. Thoughts?

Comments

Duh!

[Greyfox]

You should implement your patented IP and then when you leave you should sue them for patent infringement!

Re:Duh!

[Greyfox]

Yeah! I mean think about it! If you're a patent troll, are you going to get more business by sitting back and hoping someone invents the thing you patented, or are you going to get more business by sending out an army of coders to make SURE something you've patented gets invented? Ah it's such a brilliant idea I should go get a business process patent for it!

Re:Duh!

[Anonymous Coward]

Great idea. I'll patent that business method right now, sucker.

Re: Are you patenting software?

[TheP4st]

And also the abuses of software patents cause economic harm that FAR outweighs the benefits.

Indeed, just look at all the productivity that goes to waste whenever /. posts an article containing the word patent. In a nanosecond hordes of well paid tech professionals stop coding, innovating and creating just to read through all 389 posts and post a couple of their own. By the time they are done posting others have posted too, generating a whole bunch of new posts that have to be read and replied to, severely delaying the calculation of the Ultimate question