Re: Informix vs Oracle, alleged trade secret theft

In article <5dom2k$dc0@reader.seed.net.tw>, c811052@bsdpc2.iii.org.tw (Chih-Cherng Chin) wrote: > Joshua Freeland (jfeeland@sanet.com) wrote: > : The usual soloution is did the employer have you to sign an agreement > : that you would not use anything you learned from being employed by > : them while working on a certain project for your advancement . If not > : then you are free to use it in my opion. > I have a question about this: > If I later work for another company, could I use the idea I created during > the period I work for my ex-employer? For example, if I'm the 1st one > in the company to think about certain query optimization techniques, > can I use it at my next job(if not for me, my ex-employer might have no > chance to get a hold of it)? The difference is between anything you > learned vs. anything created(or found out) by you. > > What's your opinion? > > Chih-Cherng Chin > elmo@iii.org.tw In the US, it depends what it says in your contract. Typically, if you create something of value on the company's time, they own it unless, of course, you personally apply for and receive a patent for your idea. Even in that case, they *may* own your idea and just give you a pat on the back. They pay you for your labor power, they own the product. However, YMMV. I'm not a lawyer or an expert in labor law or patent law. -- *********************************************** * Gary Sloane sloane@batnet.com * * Errata: For errata read erratum * ***********************************************