One of the things I really like about my current job is that we developers are e

Question

One of the things I really like about my current job is that we developers are encouraged to make open source contributions.

However, this encouragement has always been verbal. I've read some horror stories about developers having their open-source work legally claimed by their employer. I'd be more comfortable if we had something in writing from my employer saying that contributions are allowed and not owned by the company.

Understanding that you are not lawyers, does anyone know where to find a boilerplate document to this effect?

Explanation / Answer

For GPLv2 software they have an example of a copyright disclaimer at the bottom of the license:

You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or your school, if any, to sign a "copyright disclaimer" for the program, if necessary. Here is a sample; alter the names:

Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright interest in the program `Gnomovision' (which makes passes at compilers) written by James Hacker.

signature of Ty Coon, 1 April 1989 Ty Coon, President of Vice

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse O
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.