intellectual-property software open-source-software ownership
How can I exclude any rights for my own software projects from the contract?
<p>I'm about to sign a long terms terms contract for software development and maintenance.
This job implies working with several applications and creating new ones. It seems to be difficult to put all of the tasks and assignments I'm going to working on and I totally understand that the company I'm going to work with has to make sure they keep rights for the software I create for them. I personally think it's fair the company is going to own any code and IP rights under their project.</p>
<p>On the other hand I'd like to make sure my own projects or any side projects that I may take part in the future do not / will not fall under this agreement. I am talking about any other code that I write in my free time commercial/open source in a non-competing field.</p>
<p>So I'd like to include a general sentence to acknowledge that I (or some other project) will still keep any rights for my(their) code while the current project keeps any right for the code (designs, written text) I write specifically for them.</p>
<p>What would be a good example of such clause?</p>

<h2>You need a lawyer</h2>
<p>There is no magic phrase to do what you want. The company will care about defending their assets, while you will want to defend yours. Only a lawyer will be able to tailor the condition that makes sense based on what your job's domain covers and your side projects.</p>
<p>It is entirely possible that your personal projects conflict with your employer's, and you must then put your personal projects on hold or risk getting sued. e.g.) developing two pieces of software that does the same thing. Your lawyer will be able to advise on how that looks and what to do. No random strangers on the internet can give you accurate advice.</p>
