Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!emory!stiatl!toolz!todd
From: todd@toolz.uucp (Todd Merriman)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: copyrights and personal recognition (opinions solicited)
Keywords: copyright, recognition, author, program
Message-ID: <1991Feb06.060040.3976@toolz.uucp>
Date: 6 Feb 91 06:00:40 GMT
References: <1991Jan22.052940.11570@xenitec.on.ca> <1991Jan23.184745.28990@ashtate>
Distribution: na
Organization: Software Toolz, Inc.
Lines: 22

>In article <1991Jan22.052940.11570@xenitec.on.ca> edhew@xenitec.on.ca (Ed Hew) writes:
>>Like most companies,  when an employee writes a program, the employee does not
>>own the software, but the company does.  The author, and therefore the
>>patent/copywrite holder is the company.  

Top-level engineers can negotiate this when they hire-on.  There is absolutely
no reason to give away all recognition and compensation for the extraordinary
work that you do.  If you have a record of substantial achievement, then
demand something more than a "gold watch" for it!  A common stipulation
in employment agreements is to share the ownership of copyrights, between
the engineer and the company.  And, in addition, royalties may also be
paid by the company to the engineer.

Surely, you don't expect "the boss" to watch out for you!  It's up to
you to see that you get what you deserve.

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