What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Rhode Island and Connecticut
I worked for General Dynamics (more accurately, it's child-company Electric Boat). Being fresh out of college, no money and desperate for work, they dropped a ton of papers in my lap and told me to sign. So I did.
As some of you are probably guessing right now, I pretty signed my intellectual soul away. Anything that I invented and tried to patent I could do at the discretion of my employer. The item would have to be reviewed by my employer before I could patent it.
Now, when I asked my supervisor the limits of such rule, I was given a very vague example. If I invented a weather-vane (or something stupid), this was not something that the company considered to be part of its core business. A more specific explanation of what I was trying to do was not given unless I divulged what I was trying to make (which I didn't want to reveal).
I worked there for about 5 years before I left that company. And I think I have to wait 1 year before I am free from their yoke. No problem.
However, during those 5 years I would often think about my invention (no, I don't want to tell anyone on the forum what it is or hint at it, so please don't ask) or draw sketches on paper (yes I have a protractor and drafting tools and yes, I use them). Now, based on that, when (if?) can I start working on my invention full-blown and patent it without fear of them coming after me? How can I find out when I can be free from them?
I worked for General Dynamics (more accurately, it's child-company Electric Boat). Being fresh out of college, no money and desperate for work, they dropped a ton of papers in my lap and told me to sign. So I did.
As some of you are probably guessing right now, I pretty signed my intellectual soul away. Anything that I invented and tried to patent I could do at the discretion of my employer. The item would have to be reviewed by my employer before I could patent it.
Now, when I asked my supervisor the limits of such rule, I was given a very vague example. If I invented a weather-vane (or something stupid), this was not something that the company considered to be part of its core business. A more specific explanation of what I was trying to do was not given unless I divulged what I was trying to make (which I didn't want to reveal).
I worked there for about 5 years before I left that company. And I think I have to wait 1 year before I am free from their yoke. No problem.
However, during those 5 years I would often think about my invention (no, I don't want to tell anyone on the forum what it is or hint at it, so please don't ask) or draw sketches on paper (yes I have a protractor and drafting tools and yes, I use them). Now, based on that, when (if?) can I start working on my invention full-blown and patent it without fear of them coming after me? How can I find out when I can be free from them?