I have always modified such agreements.
Nobody was shocked - they just passed it up the ladder, and it always came back approved.
Be sure to let them know - don't just hand it back with strikeouts and initials.
I hire programmers now, and I of course have similar stuff in my contracts - not quite the stars and the moon, but I have to cover myself too.
In my current contracts, the programmer:
A. Agrees to disclose any and all outside work.
B. Agrees NOT to accept work that I find to be a conflict.
C. Agrees to pass me full ownership rights to code he writes for me.
D. My claim only extends to code he writes for me.
Oh, and programmers have modified my contract - we were always able to come to an agreement, and I was not upset that someone was using his brain and questioning what he was told. Actually, I am always surprised when people just look it over and sign without comment, question, or change.
After all, I was looking for people with brains and the courage to use them.
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I have always modified such agreements. Nobody was shocked - they just passed it up the ladder, and it always came back approved.
Be sure to let them know - don't just hand it back with strikeouts and initials.
I hire programmers now, and I of course have similar stuff in my contracts - not quite the stars and the moon, but I have to cover myself too.
In my current contracts, the programmer:
A. Agrees to disclose any and all outside work.
B. Agrees NOT to accept work that I find to be a conflict.
C. Agrees to pass me full ownership rights to code he writes for me.
D. My claim only extends to code he writes for me.
Oh, and programmers have modified my contract - we were always able to come to an agreement, and I was not upset that someone was using his brain and questioning what he was told. Actually, I am always surprised when people just look it over and sign without comment, question, or change.
After all, I was looking for people with brains and the courage to use them.