from Hacker News

Ownership of IP for Rejected Ideas?

by infinii on 5/4/20, 4:01 AM with 2 comments

My company has been in brainstorming mode and I've proposed a few great ideas which have been rejected. What's my play if I wish to exit company and pursue an idea that I proposed that they've clearly rejected? No development work was ever started, only a business proposal deck.

Someone will surely warn me "They rejected it for a reason, why would you still pursue it?" but the context is that they are very risk averse and I might be able to find other investors/partners who have a different risk appetite.

  • by navaja on 5/4/20, 12:56 PM

    Many times employees from one company can pursue a new idea and form a new spin-off company. With that said this would mean the parent company would probably have some shares in the spin-off.

    You can also ask for their "blessing" but at the end it may all go to the contract you've signed

  • by gesman on 5/4/20, 6:32 PM

    If you mentioned it in writing (emails, presentation) they can always can come back and claim ownership in case this idea will succeed elsewhere.