[auspex]

Just be careful of inventions assignments. If you live in the US you probably signed paperwork that says anything you invent or create is property of the company you work for.

If you signed one of these and hack on the side… successful business could be owned by your previous company.

You can always ask that they release the IP which requires the lawyers to officially sign it over to you.

Before you quit your job make sure you own it.

[indieofone]

I think it would only matter for something that is quite significant. And in that case, you would probably quit long before it mattered.

[saagarjha]

Careful, you can still be sued by your past employer even after you quit.

[herval]

that's not exactly how those work (they can claim an invention if it's done during work hours, with company equipment, in the business area of operation. Might differ from state to state, but that's the gist of those contracts

[spacemanspiff01]

It varies by state, what you described is California's rules, which are by far the most permissive of moonlighting.

[jonas21]

Note that it's an "or", not an "and":

i.e. your employer can require you to assign the invention to them if it's done during work hours OR with company equipment OR related to the company's business.

The full text in the California labor code is here:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySectio....

[coin]

There’s only a few states (CA and few others) where the employer can’t claim IP developed on your own time and equipment. The other states absolutely can.