Is it legal to conduct and publish personal research results while working at a company

May 10, 2020 6 Comments

I still have some ideas for research and publications as follow-ups from my post-doc research years which are unrelated to my current work at my current company. Is it legal for me to work on those personal projects and publishing them using my weekend time only? The offer letter is very vague on that. I could ask my mananger but I do not want him to have the impression that I am doing some side projects. Thanks

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TOP 6 Comments
  • Check your employee handbook. It is common to need to at least inform the company.
    May 10, 2020 0
  • Generally, your company automatically owns whatever you publish/patent/research part of usual agreement unless it's of different nature/domain. Also, most of the companies has direct legal/HR contact so you may skip your manager and ask clarification to them directly.
    May 10, 2020 4
    • I meant to ask if company can screw you legally?
      May 10, 2020
    • New / Eng
      stoffel

      New Eng

      stoffel
      If the patent uses ideas/research that are closely related to stuff from work (or a close derivative from work), then yes, the company can claim that patent as theirs. It’d have to be reasonably unrelated to your work.
      May 11, 2020