First of all, any contracts that you signed will affect the relationship between you. You can get IP transfers, define the parties relationships (e.g. consultant providing work for hire), etc. You need to work up a contract for anyone who has access to your IP, period. And, as everyone is saying, this is important - go pay an attorney to go on the record giving you advice. What I'm saying here is not the kind of advice you should have your company rely on.
Outside of any contracts:
If you are talking about getting patents on this software, then your invention is defined by the eventual claims in your patent. Only the inventor can apply for a patent, so anything that someone else came up with is not fair game for your claims.
If the betas pointed out bugs and difficult areas in your interface, then they really aren't inventing anything. They haven't materially added to the invention, they have no new and useful material, they haven't implemented improvements or changes. This kind of beta feedback probably doesn't warrant them claiming inventor status.
If the betas suggested improvements to the interface, like additional sections, a better way to implement a section, or an additional functionality of your software... then there is more ground for considering them an inventor in that particular aspect of the software (if their suggestions are implemented). You can try to get around it by saying their suggestions are obvious extensions of your original invention, but if it was so obvious (the argument goes), then why didn't you have it in there in the first place?
Remember, though, that if you don't claim the features on which the betas are/could be considered co-inventors, then they aren't part of your IP. And they aren't inventors, with the attendant use rights, of the other parts of your software, even if they are inventors of a piece of it. Also, if your company and the betas are co-inventors on the pieces, then you all have similar rights to it, and they may not be able to prevent you from using it.
Basically, you really need to figure out what the beta has done, get an attorney to help you charactarize it, and then figure out what to do from there. Without looking at the specifics, no one here can give you the kind of advice you need.
With the AlternaTIFF plug-in installed, you can click on the "Images" button and view each page (as well as print each page).
There are tiff plug-ins available for purchase that will let you print the whole patent, not just one page at a time. For example, the Black Ice Viewers have a free one (which I don't think you can print from) and a $39 one.
It is listed as "dead", but "S-Files" was filed for trademark status on February 27, 1986 with a priority date of August 28, 1985. That's almost 9 years before the first "X-Files" trademark filed July 7, 1994.
The Claims of a patent legally define the invention. While 4,689,478 has claim elements that may cover other devices, only a device incorporating every element in the claim infringes that claim.
For example, a device incorporating elements A and B does not infringe a claim reciting elements A, B, and C.
Claim 1 of 4,689,478 recites lots of elements. Pick one that doesn't apply to the Palm Pilot or the Handspring Visor and you have the start of your arguement
Slashdot Mirror
"All night by the XevXev, ..."
All night by the Xev I lay
When does the poetry module come out for RMax?
(hopefully, not a Vogon poetry module)
MetaPad sounds WAY too much like a super-absorbent feminine hygiene product.
First of all, any contracts that you signed will affect the relationship between you. You can get IP transfers, define the parties relationships (e.g. consultant providing work for hire), etc. You need to work up a contract for anyone who has access to your IP, period. And, as everyone is saying, this is important - go pay an attorney to go on the record giving you advice. What I'm saying here is not the kind of advice you should have your company rely on.
... then there is more ground for considering them an inventor in that particular aspect of the software (if their suggestions are implemented). You can try to get around it by saying their suggestions are obvious extensions of your original invention, but if it was so obvious (the argument goes), then why didn't you have it in there in the first place?
Outside of any contracts:
If you are talking about getting patents on this software, then your invention is defined by the eventual claims in your patent. Only the inventor can apply for a patent, so anything that someone else came up with is not fair game for your claims.
If the betas pointed out bugs and difficult areas in your interface, then they really aren't inventing anything. They haven't materially added to the invention, they have no new and useful material, they haven't implemented improvements or changes. This kind of beta feedback probably doesn't warrant them claiming inventor status.
If the betas suggested improvements to the interface, like additional sections, a better way to implement a section, or an additional functionality of your software
Remember, though, that if you don't claim the features on which the betas are/could be considered co-inventors, then they aren't part of your IP. And they aren't inventors, with the attendant use rights, of the other parts of your software, even if they are inventors of a piece of it. Also, if your company and the betas are co-inventors on the pieces, then you all have similar rights to it, and they may not be able to prevent you from using it.
Basically, you really need to figure out what the beta has done, get an attorney to help you charactarize it, and then figure out what to do from there. Without looking at the specifics, no one here can give you the kind of advice you need.
Go download the free, unlimited time viewer AlternaTIFF and install it.
Then go to the USPTO and search out your patent.
With the AlternaTIFF plug-in installed, you can click on the "Images" button and view each page (as well as print each page).
There are tiff plug-ins available for purchase that will let you print the whole patent, not just one page at a time. For example, the Black Ice Viewers have a free one (which I don't think you can print from) and a $39 one.
See the list of "-Files" trademarks here.
The Claims of a patent legally define the invention. While 4,689,478 has claim elements that may cover other devices, only a device incorporating every element in the claim infringes that claim.
For example, a device incorporating elements A and B does not infringe a claim reciting elements A, B, and C.
Claim 1 of 4,689,478 recites lots of elements. Pick one that doesn't apply to the Palm Pilot or the Handspring Visor and you have the start of your arguement