Hacker News Reader

Comment by allsystemsgo | Hacker News Reader

I use my own machine. That and you have to keep in mind a few things. Does the company actually have the money to spend to go after a developer who made some simple app? Would doing so piss off their entire engineering department? Is it really worth it to them? Usually the answer is no.

Not that any of the above matters since I do this on my own time, with my own resources.

View on HN

If you work for Apple (and I think the same for Google, Facebook or Microsoft), don't they own your output even if it's on your own machine in your own time? I seem to remember part of their contract is that they own all your intellectual output. Some other discussion of this here:

http://iphonedevsdk.com/forum/business-legal-app-store/47704... https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/1phmkr/current_emp...

On the other hand, in Queensland at least, it depends on the definition of your work role. If it's specific enough, you could even create a game using your employers equipment & keep ownership & copyright yourself (the Queensland government provides that as a specific software example here):

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/business/support-tools-grant...

I work at Microsoft. I don't speak for the company but feel like sharing my experience.

We do have to comply with certain restrictions (e.g. don't do it on company time, company property, company equipment; don't compete with the company), and I'd definitely read the full legalese before trying to make a paid app. But it's not anywhere near as bad as "everything you write while you work here is ours."

Are you sure? It might be that bad, if they become motivated enough to go after you in court.

Apple does not claim ownership of your output that is done on your own time, with your own resources, as long as it doesn't relate to work you're doing at Apple.

I recently signed an employment agreement with them. It was the most fair one that I've ever signed.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com