bry's comments

But wouldn't it be more fun programming on YOUR terms, not your employer/boss' terms? Even if that meant you had to spend a bit more time managing your business?

I really enjoyed this book:

"Crypto: How the Code Rebels Beat the Government Saving Privacy in the Digital Age"

http://www.amazon.com/Crypto-Rebels-Government-Privacy-Digit...

Doesn't really teach crypto methods, but it gives a solid (and interesting) lesson about the history and thinking behind cryptology. A good read even if you're not a developer, IMHO

I just followed several people on that list that i wasn't previously. A great list - thanks for putting it together!

* forehead-slap *

Of course, ignore my dumb comment :)

Personally, I wouldn't move to work for a big company like Google after running a successful startup like this unless I had to as part of the deal. Not because Google is evil, but because you lose your independence. I wonder if that was part of the deal.

I don't think anyone is trying to get around anything or cheat the system. Obviously, everyone's situation is slightly different. I have never been in this specific situation before, so I was curious how others might interpret the language or how they might approach it. Its not iron-clad. Businesses owners are not heartless beasts. I think if approached correctly, many would be willing to sign a waiver. Also, I don't think it is cut and dry. There is room for interpretation (I didn't post every word of the agreement, so how would you know for sure?). That's what the court system is for, if it comes down to it.

There are other alternatives as well, such as working somewhere else (if you think that is the right move), or just couching the idea for awhile.

I think hope is good anyway. Nobody here really wants to be a mindless drone for some company for the rest of their lives. We're all learning here.

So if I had a house painting business on the side, they could take it over if they wanted to? Seems a little far fetched. I don't think "The relationship between what you do at work and at home is irrelevant" is correct, from what I've been able to gather in my research. It definitely plays a role. It may be minor, but its not irrelevant.

An idea for a web app is really no big deal. They're a dime a dozen. I think it's really the execution that counts. I'm not concerned about that

Not sure. Sure wasn't me. I think we all tend to hope that the answer is simple

Do you always run to the doctor at the first sign of chest pain? I would bet you, or most everyone, does just a little bit of research/asking around first. That's all I'm doing.

Just the kind of advice based on experience I was hoping to see. Thanks

I want to be clear that I'm not asking legal advice. I would never make a decision based solely on advice from friends.. but your opinions matter. Many of you have been in the same situation, so aside from the "ask a lawyer" suggestion I knew I'd get, I'd love to hear from people who have been in this situation. :)

My day job is not suffering in the least. I have to provide for my family, and I make sure to clearly separate the two. I take pride in what I do. I think my boss would agree, so I'm not worried there.

So it sounds like my only options are:

1. Quit, if I really believe in an idea, and work on it somehow without any income or by working with a company that doesn't require such an agreement (which I have yet to encounter around here). I'm not quite confident enough in the idea to do that... but I would like to be able to work on it to see what it turns out to be.

2. Get a waiver, somehow, by wading through all the bureaucracy. If they would sign such a thing, it would obviously be worth it, but I worry about all the fuss this could cause by trying to go up the chain to the appropriate level, for an idea still in its infancy.

"Ask a lawyer" aside, are there any other options? Has anyone ever been to the point where their company actually showed interest in what they were working on, on the side?

I'm not trying to be sneaky or hide anything. Like I said, I want to do this in a clean way. If I can't do it, I'll come up with another idea later if/when I don't work for them.

Seems a little silly to have to consult a lawyer before posting to HN. Thanks for your thoughts though (seriously)

I work in AZ, but the company is headquartered in DC. They acquired our company a few years back, and they're pretty new to the dealing with the web. They pretty much let us do our thing, since we do it pretty well, but in the end they still own us.

I'm not sure how litigious they are, and in the end I don't think they'd care about me and my idea. It wouldn't compete directly at all. I guess I'm more concerned about what a VC or Angel investor would think or if that would hold up the process or scare of other potential investors. Or if I beat the odds and did end up selling it one day, I'm worried that any company like mine might see an opportunity to snaggle things up in order to cash in on the winnings. Its a good company, and I enjoy it here, but I just want to keep things clean.

I know "ask a lawyer" is the safest choice, and I REALLY appreciate all your comments. I'm curious if anyone here has actually been in this situation, or better yet, further down the line where they were trying to get funding and the VC or Angel saw it as a problem.

All comments are certainly appreciated!

That's pretty much my concern. I have thought about approaching them, but we're talking about a huge amount of bureaucracy. I'm sure my managers would be totally cool with it, but my manager's manager's manager wouldn't even have the authority to approve it.

So I'm left debating whether I have anything to worry about in the first place, or whether I should start working through all that bureaucracy.

Thanks guys! Looking forward to any more insight or if anyone else has been through this situation before.