[Discuss] Ubiquiti Networks is creatively violating the GPL

[smallm at panix.com (Mike Small)]

"Greg Rundlett (freephile)" <greg at freephile.com> writes:
> Assignment of copyright (to the FSF) is NOT automatic.  It's something you
> have to do (another hurdle in making software free, AND defensible).

One interesting thing to me about copyright assignment and the paperwork
some GNU projects require for it is how it could bring to a head how
grasping the wording of your company's "invention assignment agreement"
is.  The company I work for happens to be based out of California, so
their policy on this filters through a certain California labour law,
one that leaves room for a person to contribute to free software as long
as it isn't done on company time or facilities. (Er, there may be a
little more in there about whether you're directly competing with your
company's direct business or something like that but it's a pretty nice
law all the same as I recall.)  Massachusetts, as far as I know, has no
law like it. I wonder about this when I think about moving on. I don't
think companies are necessarily trying to be jerks about it. But without
a law you have to think lawyers over time are going to opt for the
maximal position for their clients, one that says they own everything
you do night or day while they pay you. I wonder how many patches are
flying around under this kind of contract.

Can't imagine the law improving here anytime soon either. Maybe if
Senator Brownsberger ever gets his anti-compete reform through he could
be persuaded to take this one up?  But even that, being modest and fair
as seems to me his way, has been largely stonewalled by interested
parties, yes?

-- 
Mike Small
smallm at panix.com