I work at a bank and I developed an in-house web application that helps keep track of past due loans and all the interaction between the bank and the customers. I was recently told by an outside consultant, who frequents many different banks, that each one of these banks would die to have a loss mitigation system like the one I built.
I just read Joel's response to a similar question about copyright ownership. In his example he said that even though Joe was hired to write the code, he still owns the copyright.
So, do I own the copyright to this app and can I resell it to other banks?
Update 05/20/2011:
Thank you all for your honest feedback on this issue. I have always understood that software written at work by an employee as belonging to the employer. I was stunned when I read scenario described by Joel, and thought I would ask your opinions. It's nice to know that I have always held the same beliefs as you... the code belongs to the employer.
1.
You wrote this code AT work, while on company time? That in itself sounds like the bank owns the application.2.
Was this an application that your employer requested you write?3.
Were they aware that you were writing this during company time?