internet property
Who is rightful owner of Gmail personal email account?
<p>I had created a Gmail account for office use by providing my credentials (first owner). After quitting job, still I am using this account for my use. My ex boss demanded me to handover said account to company immediately. He called me a hacker.</p>

<p>Does my former employer have any right to this Gmail account?</p>

<p>The Google TOS says, applicable to creation of accounts:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>You may create your own Google Account, or your Google Account may be
  assigned to you by an administrator, such as your employer or
  educational institution. If you are using a Google Account assigned to
  you by an administrator, different or additional terms may apply and
  your administrator may be able to access or disable your account. To
  protect your Google Account, keep your password confidential. You are
  responsible for the activity that happens on or through your Google
  Account.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So the account wasn't created for you by an administrator, and it is your own Google account. The terms say that you are responsible for what happens with your account, thus if you were to turn over the password to someone else and they did illegal things, you would be responsible (at least with respect to your legal relationship to Google).</p>

<p>Google does have business email, which your employer apparently did not utilize. In order to have actual ownership of the account, the business would need to set up the account for you and claim initial "ownership". If you create an account for the convenience of a business, that convenience – but not the account – is a gift from you to the business.</p>
