software open-source-software
Software Licence Agreement for project developed away from work to be used at work
<p>I developed a logging application. I started a process with my employer to integrate the application on-premise at their client's servers.</p>

<p>The application was developed by me, during my free time.</p>

<p>One part of the requirements is to deploy the source code to their source control repositories.</p>

<p>Is there any type of contract that we can agree to, so, somehow, I still get the ownership of the application code? Regardless of what happens with my employment contract.</p>

<p>You automatically retain ownership of the copyright on the application, unless you sign it away. What you need is a contract to set out the rules under which the company can use and modify the software.</p>

<p>Consider what you want in exchange for giving them the software. Do you want to be paid? Lump sum or on-going fees as long as they use it? And when they want to modify it, do you want them to have the right to do it themselves or must they ask you? And if they have that right, do they have to share the changes with you, even after you left the company?</p>

<p>There are many licences that cover this sort of thing. Two you might want to consider are a BSD-style licence and the GPL.</p>

<p>BSD licences basically state that the software must retain a notice acknowledging your ownership (copyright). GPL requires the company to publish changes it makes. Between those two there are many other options, but they are a good place to start.</p>
