“The day that I joined I had to sign a contract that basically said anything I created during or outside of company time is owned by ZeniMax. Even on my own hardware, or at a game jam.” Kelly wavered for a few moments – signing the contract would limit any chance to work on side projects -- then decided to sign regardless. “To be clear, many people worked on personal projects and for the most part ZeniMax didn’t care,” he says. “I think it was more on principle [that] I had a problem.”
No, this is a legitimate concern. Clauses like this should be illegal. What you do in your spare time is yours. What the hell, what are you, a slave? These clauses are there to disincentivize you doing things beside your work, so that your employer can take up even more room in your life. I would never sign such a contract.
No, this is a legitimate concern. Clauses like this should be illegal. What you do in your spare time is yours. What the hell, what are you, a slave? These clauses are there to disincentivize you doing things beside your work, so that your employer can take up even more room in your life. I would never sign such a contract.