I wrote a program for my boss. How legal is to to write the program again and make it FOSS? (lemm.ee)

submitted 11 months ago by DroneRights@lemm.ee to c/programming@programming.dev

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I told my boss I had an idea for a program that could improve efficiency across much of the business, and he let me build it on company time. In the long term, he wanted to be able to sell it to other companies. However, the program never got implemented due to personnel mismanagement, and I'd rather be able to post it on my github under a free licence so I can use it as a resume item, and at least someone would have the chance to actually use it. It's all still in my head, and I could write it again if I wanted. If I do, is it illegal to publish it? What if I write it in a different language? Do I need to change the variable names? I did plenty of research and planning on company time to build it, and it's not like I can research it again, it's all still in my head.

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[-] Tischkante@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 11 months ago

Just change the language used to write it, if possible.

[-] anzo@programming.dev 6 points 11 months ago

That's practical, but not so sound, advice. IANAL, yet... I remember when Julia lang was gaining traction that many R lang programmers wanted to port their favorite packages. If they were to look at the R sources (under GPL) to write the Julia version to be released under MIT license, they would be violating the GPL. Or there was a risk, at least. Of course, this case is different because the first and original version is not GPL. But this came to mind. Anyway, I suppose that it all boils down to how much OP feels like their employer (boss or anyone with power in the company) will be a son-of-a-cop and really come forward to court against him... I mean, that's in the first place. Then, comes the legal advice, as to how much of a case can be made, and what do we expect a judge would see it...

[-] DroneRights@lemm.ee -2 points 11 months ago

Not a him

[-] AVincentInSpace@pawb.social 2 points 11 months ago

their

not a him

[-] DroneRights@lemm.ee -1 points 11 months ago

Anyway, I suppose that it all boils down to how much OP feels like their employer (boss or anyone with power in the company) will be a son-of-a-cop and really come forward to court against him

Who would the boss be coming forward in court against except for me?

[-] derpgon@programming.dev 9 points 11 months ago

The only reaction to a long advice post is bitching about pronouns? Society is fucked.

[-] DroneRights@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago

My gender is more important to me than some random program. I can make a program whenever I want, but I've only got one gender.

[-] anzo@programming.dev 4 points 11 months ago

Sorry, I hope you understand that was just an error on my behalf most probably related to being tired and typing in multiple languages sometimes can be a strainer.

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this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2023

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