Discussion:
In the Fall of 2003, I talked with a friend of mine who has a one-man consulting company about collaborating on some software development in the cell phone arena. Together we wrote the code although I would say I did at least 80-90 percent of the work. I never had the intention of getting paid for my work although we agreed that if a potnetial contract should come up in the area of cell-phone development that I would be the first person he would call.
Since that time he has started another company which is dedicated to cell phone based software. Through the new company, he performed consulting services which made use of some of the work I did and because of that, he paid me a portion of the money he made from the consulting work. I never asked or intended to get paid.
I recently interviewed with a company that has a product similar to the project I worked on in the Fall with him. It is a more established company and can afford to pay me a salary and provide benefits. When he found out about my interview, he wanted me to sign a NDA and a contract agreement. He has also threatend to call my potential employer if I dont and make them aware that I had done work for him in this area.
Could someone please advise me on whether I should or should not sign the paper work ? Do they have a right to the work that I have done ?
Thank you
Answer:
Tell him to "BITE ROCKS"
You doing work for him "in this area" is no bar to future employment and may even be attractive to your new employer.
If doing work in a similar area were a bar to future employment, I'd have been out of work for the past 20 years.