Employer's claim to Intelectual property

[JoJerome]

What is the name of your state? Arizona

Similar to the question PrinceCharming posted yesterday, but I'm in a different state...

I might be hiring on with an electronics store. Part of the hire packet is an intellectual property agreement. It looks to me like it's specifically referring to ideas, designs, patents, etc. specific to the company business. So where they're asking me to list any existing ideas, designs, etc, should I list my 3 writing projects and possible, future, free-lance web design business that *don't* relate to an electronics store?

I ask because a couple of these ideas are in their infancy and I don't want whomever reads this agreement, or that person's cousin's cousin's friend's buddy to possibly take the idea for themselves.

Thanks in advance.

 

[quincy]

You can list that you are working on projects that have nothing to do with work that you would be doing for the electronics store, but you do not have to be (and probably should not be) specific. A general "3 writing projects and a web design business" should be sufficient. If you have specific electronics store ideas that you want them to consider as an incentive for hire, you may want to elaborate a little on these - but, again, it is probably wise not to be too specific - leave the specifics for when you are hired.

Any work you are hired to do as a W-4 employee of the electronics store would be considered "works for hire" and you would not have any rights in these - by virtue of your employment, the rights in these works would be owned by the electronics store.

Wait for other posts from forum members who know much more than I do about this, however.

 

[JoJerome]

Thanks for the info quincy. I figured as much. I noticed the earlier post from an employer trying to prove employee ideas made on company time. Seems the burden of proof would lie with the employer, leaving me little to worry about unless the security camera catches me designing a transporter or something.