RE: "Prior Inventions" on employment contract

> From: Dan
>
> If this belongs on a different list, please let me know.

Maybe NON-TECH.  But it's certainly an interesting topic.


> Employee agrees that (s)he has no ideas or inventions or copyrights
> made or conceived prior to the beginning date of Employee's employment
> with COMPANY that relate in any way to COMPANY's Business or the
> business of the Client except for such as are disclosed on Exhibit "B",
> which Exhibit (entitled "Prior Inventions") shall be signed by COMPANY
> if any such inventions shall exist.  Any and all inventions, ideas or
> copyrights of Employee disclosed or made available to COMPANY during
> the term of this Agreement shall be disclosed on a non-confidential
> basis and Employee agrees that COMPANY shall have an irrevocable and
> free right to use such inventions, ideas and copyrights in any way
> whatsoever except for such valid patent rights as Employee may have
> obtained prior to the date hereof which are disclosed on Exhibit "B".

Not a chance I'd sign this.  Under any circumstances.  And if I was turned
down for a job because I didn't sign it, I'd seriously consider a lawsuit.
It's the product of a lawyer gone mad.  The original idea was probably to
protect the company from someone developing a competing product on their own
time, but the wording is ludicrous.

"Employee agrees that (s)he has no ideas...that relate in any way..."

Give me a break.  This is an incredibly broad statement.  I've noticed
similar things in other contracts, but this one is the worst.

Joe