> I've been talking with a company about a possible acquisition of this, and hiring me ...

Okay, your description is short on details, but it looks as though you have an intellectual property or "idea" (a) and some personal skills (b).

The people you're negotiating with may be trying to get (a) by offering (b). It works like this -- if they hire you, any ideas you have past that point belong to them. All they need to do is claim that you had your idea (or substantially developed it) after you were hired as their employee. And as their employee, any ideas you have belong to them (a common condition of employment).

I'm not saying this is the only possibility, but it is certainly on a list of possibilities. So ... be careful about giving away your ideas in exchange for employment. Good luck.