Licensing Question?

Tom Schreiner · Apr 16th, 2002, 12:04 AM

Hi everyone.
This may be an unusual question for this forum, but I'll dig as much out of you guys as I can.
I am actually a truck driver who took an interest in computers about a year ago.
I have quickly been elevated to "guru" status at my local office, which does not say alot, but does afford me the oportunity to make alot more money than my counterparts.
I purchased Microsoft Visual Studio and have mostly done my work in VB. Have recently started to learn Excel as well. Purchased Office 2000.
Some of the work for various projects has been done at work, some at home.
To the point. I just found out that a copy of an extensive Excel project I created was just sent to a similiar account in another state. They are also requesting copies of several fairly large VB projects as well.
My question is. Who owns this software?
I was paid and am not trying to be greedy, but I feel somewhat usurped. The Excel project is locked and some editing will be needed to customize for the new location. They want the password for one of their people to edit my code. They also want the source code from my VB projects. Can they demand this? The VB projects were written soley on my purchased Visual Studio.
I searched the web and could find nothing that seemed relevant to my question.
As always, I appreciate the help.
Tom

Nobby · Apr 16th, 2002, 01:02 AM

This has some information on the ownership of Intellectual Property Rights for employees in USA.

http://cerebraltrespass.com/ipguideweb.htm

I'm not a legal expert but I always thought the general rule was if you are being paid for it, it belongs to the employer, if you are not being paid then it belongs to you, subject of course to what you contract of employment says. Then again, never having an original idea, its not something I've looked into in any great detail

Nobby

Tom Schreiner · Apr 16th, 2002, 01:18 AM

Thanks Nobby, will check out site...
Tom

MrExcel · May 12th, 2002, 01:46 PM

Buy the book: SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, A Legal Guide by Fishman.

There is one chapter that asserts if you are not being paid as a programmer and you write the thing on your own time, you own the code. If they paid you extra for it, then it is up in the air.

Bill

Tom Schreiner · May 12th, 2002, 01:49 PM

Thanks,
I will buy it for sure.
Tom

Yogi Anand · May 12th, 2002, 01:54 PM

Hey Tom:
You truly are a Guru -- Your status on MrExcel Board attests to that as well -- I just noticed that --

C O N G R A T S

Regards!

Jack in the UK · May 12th, 2002, 01:58 PM

see my reply on http://www.mrexcel.com/board/viewtop...8040&forum=2&5

but ill add you hold the CD whatever program
You hold the licence as legal DSP product.
so you design the exe or exl or com or whatever it wa as a job for a company.

NOW US laws seem to be subject to FBI rules but copyright FBI jump on.

i would say this from bitter experiance and daily grinds.

Employers will demand working products and open sorces

that is open excel sheet ie not passworded or PWs given, and any programmong sorce code to be given, i have even had to print some of my codes before for a company exccel ODBC ripping AS400 live debtors reports so they can edit.. this is common

you i would say have passed on the coppy right to the employer as agreed for that work but the compilind software is yours, VB Studio.

OK so what you do is this re jigg it improve it and re use it, but leaglly i cant say that elegadily... covers me in UK laws there.

run mate!

Tom Schreiner · May 12th, 2002, 02:08 PM

Hey Yogi?
Is that an automated promotion based upon posts or does someone actually think I deserve the MVP title?

Jack.
I hope I don't have to worry that deeply.
I was already paid for my work, and I have learned alot. It's a win win here. But you know what I'm saying when your "baby", so to speak, is being ravaged by know-it-alls?
I have unique knowledge of our operation with no ego attached. I enjoy improving things like most of us creative developers.
Thanks for your continual input brother.
Tom

Jack in the UK · May 12th, 2002, 02:16 PM

keep going Tom

MVP congrats

Yogi Anand · May 12th, 2002, 02:17 PM

Quote:

On 2002-05-12 13:08, TsTom wrote:
Hey Yogi?
Is that an automated promotion based upon posts or does someone actually think I deserve the MVP title?

A WELL DESERVED HONOR !

Regards!

May 12th, 2002, 01:46 PM	#4
MrExcel . Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Akron, Ohio USA Posts: 789	Buy the book: SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, A Legal Guide by Fishman. There is one chapter that asserts if you are not being paid as a programmer and you write the thing on your own time, you own the code. If they paid you extra for it, then it is up in the air. Bill __________________ Preview my latest book for Free

May 12th, 2002, 01:54 PM	#6
Yogi Anand MrExcel MVP Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Michigan USA Posts: 11,452	Hey Tom: You truly are a Guru -- Your status on MrExcel Board attests to that as well -- I just noticed that -- C O N G R A T S Regards! __________________ Regards! Yogi Anand, D.Eng, P.E. Energy Efficient Building Network LLC www.energyefficientbuild.com

May 12th, 2002, 01:58 PM	#7
Jack in the UK Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,065	see my reply on http://www.mrexcel.com/board/viewtop...8040&forum=2&5 but ill add you hold the CD whatever program You hold the licence as legal DSP product. so you design the exe or exl or com or whatever it wa as a job for a company. NOW US laws seem to be subject to FBI rules but copyright FBI jump on. i would say this from bitter experiance and daily grinds. Employers will demand working products and open sorces that is open excel sheet ie not passworded or PWs given, and any programmong sorce code to be given, i have even had to print some of my codes before for a company exccel ODBC ripping AS400 live debtors reports so they can edit.. this is common you i would say have passed on the coppy right to the employer as agreed for that work but the compilind software is yours, VB Studio. OK so what you do is this re jigg it improve it and re use it, but leaglly i cant say that elegadily... covers me in UK laws there. run mate! __________________ Free Excel based Web Toolbar available here. Jack in the UK J & R Excel Solutions "making Excel work for you"

May 12th, 2002, 02:16 PM	#9
Jack in the UK Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,065	keep going Tom MVP congrats __________________ Free Excel based Web Toolbar available here. Jack in the UK J & R Excel Solutions "making Excel work for you"

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Apr 16th, 2002, 12:04 AM	#1
Tom Schreiner Board Regular Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,824	Hi everyone. This may be an unusual question for this forum, but I'll dig as much out of you guys as I can. I am actually a truck driver who took an interest in computers about a year ago. I have quickly been elevated to "guru" status at my local office, which does not say alot, but does afford me the oportunity to make alot more money than my counterparts. I purchased Microsoft Visual Studio and have mostly done my work in VB. Have recently started to learn Excel as well. Purchased Office 2000. Some of the work for various projects has been done at work, some at home. To the point. I just found out that a copy of an extensive Excel project I created was just sent to a similiar account in another state. They are also requesting copies of several fairly large VB projects as well. My question is. Who owns this software? I was paid and am not trying to be greedy, but I feel somewhat usurped. The Excel project is locked and some editing will be needed to customize for the new location. They want the password for one of their people to edit my code. They also want the source code from my VB projects. Can they demand this? The VB projects were written soley on my purchased Visual Studio. I searched the web and could find nothing that seemed relevant to my question. As always, I appreciate the help. Tom

Apr 16th, 2002, 01:02 AM	#2
Nobby Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 68	This has some information on the ownership of Intellectual Property Rights for employees in USA. http://cerebraltrespass.com/ipguideweb.htm I'm not a legal expert but I always thought the general rule was if you are being paid for it, it belongs to the employer, if you are not being paid then it belongs to you, subject of course to what you contract of employment says. Then again, never having an original idea, its not something I've looked into in any great detail Nobby

Apr 16th, 2002, 01:18 AM	#3
Tom Schreiner Board Regular Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,824	Thanks Nobby, will check out site... Tom

May 12th, 2002, 01:49 PM	#5
Tom Schreiner Board Regular Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,824	Thanks, I will buy it for sure. Tom

May 12th, 2002, 02:08 PM	#8
Tom Schreiner Board Regular Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,824	Hey Yogi? Is that an automated promotion based upon posts or does someone actually think I deserve the MVP title? Jack. I hope I don't have to worry that deeply. I was already paid for my work, and I have learned alot. It's a win win here. But you know what I'm saying when your "baby", so to speak, is being ravaged by know-it-alls? I have unique knowledge of our operation with no ego attached. I enjoy improving things like most of us creative developers. Thanks for your continual input brother. Tom