ryan is the supernicety wrote:
] If you don't want all your code to be owned by your company,
] negotiate that with your company. If they are not willing to
] negotiate, don't take that job. It is a free market economy;
] if enough people don't take jobs because of it, then the
] standard will change.

While the perspective I alluded to was admittedly over the top, there is more that can be done here. The laws in California are among the most restrictive of the sorts of contracts that companies can legally enter into with its employees. This has directly contributed to the technological innovation in that State, and is also one of the key reasons that other areas haven't been able to compete as technology centers. Its the exception that proves the rule. These contracts are anti-innovation, and when you limit them, your economy improves. Obviously the case in question occured in California, so I'd argue that the law in California doesn't go far enough, but in general there is more to this then not signing contracts individually. Legislatures ought to ban these contracts wholesale. Companies that are serious about innovation should avoid them.

RE: Slashdot | Apple Claims Ownership of Shareware -- DON'T WORK FOR APPLE