Where is the Spolsky article about employee agreements? [closed]

Question

I think I remember reading an article written by Joel Spolsky a few years back about employee agreements. I've searched around for 45 minutes and can't find the answer.

There was a debate over who owned the work product for work done after-hours. The argument could be seen in 1 of 2 ways:

1. The employer own anything you do from 9-5. Anything an employee does after hours is their own.
2. The employer is paying you a yearly salary for all the work product you come up with over the course of the employee's employment. If they do work on the "side" after they go home, the employer still has the right to that IP.

Can anyone point me to this article? It was a gem.

Answer 1

I believe you're referring to this answer by Joel and not to an actual article. At least I haven't seen any article on this topic.

_{If I'm allowed to comment on this answer then it was this text that has actually undermined my previously rather high respect for Joel. One thing clear I wouldn't want to work for his company. I personally stand by my opinion - no company which wants to "own you" would get me. If all of them were to start putting this hostile clause in their agreements I would change the profession but will not succumb to their demands.}

Answer 2

Does your employer own your side projects? by Joel Spolsky

There’s a surprising amount of misinformation out there about whether software companies own the work that a programmer does in their spare time.

From my answer to the question on answers.onstartups.com:

Being an employee of a high tech company whose product is intellectual means that you have decided that you want to sell your intellectual output.

Read the whole thing here:

If I'm working at a company, do they have intellectual property rights to the stuff I do in my spare time?