I work for an events company, but have a decade s history with theatrical lighting design. One of the things that I asked during my on boarding process was about their non-solicitation/non-compete agreement and how it would effect my theatrical designs I continue to do. They stated that they don t do theater work, so there wouldn't be a problem. Now, a year later, they asked my to quote a school for some rental EQUIPMENT, and during the conversation with the client he mentioned that he might want to hire my employer (the company) to send me as the lighting designer for the show. I would like to do it, but I also am hesitant because I don t want the company to take credit for my design.
Anonymous2019-08-26T23:01:27Z
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Credit? If you designed it, you designed it. They can claim you worked for them. Why would this even come up unless you made a thing out of it.
Please understand that when you work for somebody, they own everything that you do, UNLESS there is some sort of written contract or understanding to the contrary.
When you go to the factory and assemble automobiles, the company owns the assembled car, not YOU! The company owns the results of your labor because they pay you for your labor.
If you want "credit" for creating the lighting design, like your name written in the "credits" after a movie, then all 3 of you (your employer, the moviemaker customer and you) must be in agreement before the job is done. That means a written and signed agreement before the job is done.
Being paid twice for something is problematic unless you properly agree beforehand.
I'm curious about the wording in their non-solicitation/non-competition agreement (a business contract) that you agreed to and signed.
They can lie to you verbally or agree to things verbally, but if you try to do something against the contract, such as taking written credit for something that you agreed not to do, then the signed contract will prevail in a courtroom proceding.
on boarding process?
Sounds like you are getting on a ship for some travel. Embarkation.
The company would own it because they are paying you for the work, unless your employment agreement clearly allows you to retain future rights to the design, or you have a string of correspondence stating that is the case, and the agreement doesn't contain language that prohibits it.