Hello, I blog!
I share all my sporadic and toilet thoughts in here, because I am random like that.
Whose intellectual property is it?
Before taking on a project in collaboration with a certain unnamed company, yours truly has to apparently, sign a declaration/agreement form stating that all the products of my hard work during the course of the project will not belong to me, but to the company.
I’m a little miffed about this.
Was told that this is common practice among all companies out there, which further fuels my displeasure of working for any company in the future.
Niceeee.
So this is how companies work. They hire (or hold collaborations with) people, squeeze their creative juices out of them until there’s almost none left, force them to sign over all their ideas to the company such that it no longer becomes their own intellectual property, and the people are left high and dry once everything is over.
Forced to keep mum, can’t reuse the same ideas for even their own projects, not even when they rightfully came up with those ideas themselves in the first place.
So this practically means that we slog like hell behind our laptop screens 24/7, plus the potential several all-nighters we “should be expected” to pull – only to have the company have all the recognition while we are left with zilch.
What do we have to show our hard work?
We cannot keep the programming code, graphics or any amazing cool shit we come up with during the project. (Everything belongs to the company, remember?) So when this whole thing blows over, all we have is a blank screen – oh, and perhaps a grade.
One may argue that the knowledge and experience gained during the project far supercedes the final product. But the final product is representative of the hard work, sweat, tears put we put into building it. It’s the hallmark of the project experience; having something solid that you can keep, and occasionally glance at so that you can rekindle that wow, I did that?!? kind of feeling.
Imagine a few years down the road;
“What did you do for your Final Year Project?”
“(Insert vague description here – can’t reveal too much top secret information, remember?)” says I.
“Oh wow, sounds fantastic! Do you have a little preview?”
“Oh yes, I do. Here you do, a blank screen.”
With this particular project my group and I are (most likely going to) delve into, I am very sure that a fair amount of creative juices will be pumped into it (and it’s already brain wrecking enough just to figure out how to prettify this concept further), and I am very much likely to come up with a whole assortment of enhancement ideas during the course of this one.
And everything goes to the company.
Ah well, have to sign the damn form anyway – whether I like it or not. At least we will have a teensy bit of recognition (that is, if you count being referred to as “a student team from SMU” as recognition).
One thing I know for sure – we are definitely allowed to put this in our resume, which will sparkle oh-so brightly especially if we complete this project well, which is the big fat blaring positive reward for this whole thing.
Okay, now to brainstorm for more ideas. (Which will go to the company. :()
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11 Comments
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13 May 2008
5:26 AM
Maisie
In the field I want to go into (game art), the same thing happens. It’s called a work-for-hire contract here, although the thing is that game companies have extra things called NDAs, or non-disclosure agreements, that state that the artists are not allowed to divulge information until AFTER they clear the NDA. So, the artists must keep secret about their work but once the NDA is cleared (usually after the game’s release), they are allowed to show their work freely, even though it ‘belongs’ to the company. At least, that’s how I think it works. I could be wrong on a few things.
Are you sure you absolutely have no rights over your finished work? That just sounds ludicrous…. Perhaps you could get them to add a few clauses that state that you are allowed to show parts of it, or at least give out some info. Companies don’t like removing things from their contracts but if you -add- a few clauses in your favor, they might accept it.
13 May 2008
6:05 AM
Stephanie
Just randomly decided to stop by at your blog, considering I quit blogging months ago.
Anyways, it’s a pity that the workers don’t get any credit at all. Maybe it’s too hard for a consumer to remember so many people instead of one company. But what you should get is more credit from the company. The company, maybe not the public at large, should honor you.
Anyways, good luck on your project! I’m sure that i’ll be all worth it in the end. Usually, these things are.
13 May 2008
7:25 PM
Id
It happens in Interior Design as well. They are so quick to take interns because they think that schools are the dispensary of cheap labour so they milk fresh grads for all their worth. It annoys me. But I think by right they should honour you by name. They’re apparently too selfish to neglect that fact. Sure, you can put it in your resume, but there should be a greater degree of reciprocation from their part, you know?
13 May 2008
8:47 PM
Chien Yee
It’s taking advantage of people, obviously! But then can’t you keep the copy for your own personal use? :P
14 May 2008
9:30 AM
Belle Chua
Hey Brenda,
I totally agreed with you! IP is a 2 edged swords… 1 to protect you and 2 to protect against you…it’s just which side you stand when the IP thingy creeps in.
For now, especially when we are still students with no society-standing and no influence to empower, IP is always against us…but no worries, it’s just the way things work!
Take care!
14 May 2008
9:43 AM
Valerie
This seems to be the case in quite a number of fields. Over here we’re not allowed to disclose what’s going on in terms of our research, and (at least for us interns), any findings would be the property of the organisation. I guess that’s why you see some people setting up their own businesses instead, so that they get ownership of their own work.
14 May 2008
12:30 PM
Ivy
Thank god my essays all belong to me. That’s a perk for social science undergrads, I guess. I cannot imagine how pissed I would be if all my hard work will not end up belonging to me. But regardless what the rights are to the final product, as students we have no choice but to do as we’re told. The A+ is a lot more important at the end. We can bicker about the rights once we become more established. :D For now, all the best!
15 May 2008
3:41 AM
Beth
That doesn’t seem very fair, you should be credited somewhere. >:0
At least, if it turns out to be something great, it will be on your resume. *shrugs* I’m not too bright with those sorts of things.
15 May 2008
3:50 AM
Erin
I remember signing a paper like that when I worked at QVC but my job wasn’t doing anything relatively creative. I just answered phones. Meh.
It’s just another way for them to make more money. And as much as it sucks for designers, I bet it’s equally as bad for scientists. Cure for AIDs? You better quit that job to get the credit! =P
15 May 2008
4:12 AM
Annie
Well that is a little rude. Full credit should be given to your group. The company should get squat, well, apart from the privilege of using your work. Taking your work though…pfft.
Least it will count towards on your CV. :)