Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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Basically I wrote a bit of software in VB a while ago that would be useful for me to generate reports at work.
People saw how amazingly great it was and now it's used company-wide  Although, nobody has ever asked me about rights to the software, etc. and I've limited the number of records it can process, so if it's more than 500 people have to contact me so I can unlock it for a bit (I did this for another reason really but nevermind that).
So what I want to know is...If I left he company, do I own this software? I imagine they'd want to keep onto it and use it (which is fine) but if they wanted the source code would it be mine to sell to them?
I don't hold any loyalty to the company. I'm a contractor so I get shit on regularly anyway (hence why I might leave).
Cheers
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Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
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If you put your own tag to the software when it was written then thats enough to order the company to destroy it or pay for it
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AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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Yeh, that would do.
Perhaps a company wide patch would be in order.......
You might also want to amend the source code to include your details in it too - no disputing it then...
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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Ah yeah, all the source has my details with comments just in case anyone else had to understand it all anyway 
If I left then, what's the best way to go about it? I'm sure they'd ask 'what will happed with the software?'.
Would I just say 'what's it worth to the company?' 
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
User status: Offline
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I'm not sure, surely if this was the case, every contractor would just try and charge a company loads when he left after writing a piece of software?
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Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
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Depends if that was what they were brought in specifically to do....
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Robbo
Member
Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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Generally in contracts it states any intellectual property you come up with belongs to the company... check your contract  (Yes I did see that you are a contractor)
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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Hmmm.... I thought it depended one wether they actually asked me to do it (which they didn't) and wether I wrote it in my personal time or theirs.
Think i'll just delete it off the network when I go
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Robbo
Member
Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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My Vodafone one states that any software, applications or patentable ip developed on behalf of vodafone belongs to them regardless... jus hav 2 hope theat the comany comensurate you I suppose!
PS I would
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James
Member
Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
User status: Offline
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TBH If a contractor works on a piece of software that a company is highly dependable upon, it usually works in your favour, because you are often the only person with the knowledge and ability to maintain and support it.
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Robbo
Member
Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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Yeah I think the contractor issue complicates things here
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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They asked me if I wanted to go staff so they could own me, but I said no haha Probably why they go the extra mile now to make sure I have no where to park my scoob - Bastard HR! 
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