Properly Contributing to Open Source While on Company Time?

egeorge asks: "I was wondering what kind of paperwork/policies developers have at their jobs concerning contribution to open source projects. I develop software at a company that derives almost its entire revenue from software. Some software is licensed to customers, some is run internally in a service model, but the software is our whole business. We have recently been doing more and more modification and customization of open source products, and we would love to give some of this back. As developers, though, some of us are a little hesitant to just start flinging code that technically still belongs to the company out into the world. We want to make sure we get clarification about what is or is not covered by our NDAs. So, what kind of procedures do other developers have to go through to get adequate coverage for Open Source submissions? I would like to suggest a policy to my superiors, and could use a few good suggestions."

A quick list

[Anonymous Coward]

• Don't ask for permission. What they don't know, can't hurt them!
• Be like Nike; Just Do It! Need to write a routine for the internal process? Just slap the GPL on top and release it on Sourceforge.
• Make use of the resources available. Do you not have enough time to work on your own projects? Just circumvent the firewall and telnet to your home machine. The office is more comfortable, anyway.
• It works the other way you know. Need a routine for an internal project? Just use it and release the changes.
• If all else fails; lie. Claim it wasn't you. Cover your tracks. Call the BSA if you need a diversion in a hurry.

Thats what I did when I was at SCO, anyway!

Anyone know of some OSS MRP Software?

[Real World Stuff]

TIA

And in other news...

[Anonymous Coward]

...How to run an ebay business selling your company's items

What!

[PS-SCUD]

I'd never do something so dishonest as to develop OSS on company time. I just look at pr0n and DL some music on Kazaa ;-)

Government Copyrights in Canada

[IncohereD]

Lucky bastard....Her Majesty the Queen of England of all people holds the copyrights on MY code. :)

Re:Government Copyrights in Canada

[GoofyBoy]

But in exchange, you get full rights and privliages as a loyal British citizen!

Re:Well

[Anonymous Coward]

TATMA(There Are Too Many Acronyms)

Re:Careful!

[Anonymous Coward]

So if anyone wonders why nothing good ever gets done from our company, this is why.

So if your remarks are legally owned by your company, then your remark is your company's, and therefor, your company is essentially saying what you're saying, then your company's saying that nothing good ever happens at.. ...

Lawyer time, dude. ;)

Re:Government Copyrights in Canada

[brer_rabbit]

Geez, I could understand your Copyrights belonging to PARLIMENT, but the Queen!!!!!!

I suggest everyone Give Up The Funk to Parliament. Your code would rest easier with George Clinton anyway.

Free Your Code and Your Ass Will Follow!

Re:Simply put: I DO

[orev]

It's easier to apologize afterward than it is to get permission beforehand.

Re:Simply put: I DO

[Anonymous Coward]

Remember that when you're in the unemployment line.