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1. When you join, they'll make you sign an IP assignment form. This typically includes a section where you IP that you already owned before joining -- these will be excluded from assignment. Fill this section in extensively.

2. Make sure you work on your own stuff in your own time and with your own equipment.

3. Live in California -- the laws are much more on the employee's side on these issues.

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Number 2 above is the most critical. No matter how tempting it maybe, you must keep a clear seperation between company business and your side projects, always. If you are really concerned then I would go as far as not even mentioning it at the office, over lunch during the work day, or to any colleague you might want to work with in future until such a time as you are ready to sever your ties with your 9 to 5 career.

See it makes perfect sense to me if I spend large amounts of my own money and time to do something on my own equipment and time that I should be given the right to my own inventions and ideas.

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