Ask HN: Legal/IP implications of freely offered coding?
Another coder who loves the project is offering to help out part time without compensation in a "just to get to know each other" way. There is an understanding and verbal agreement this would be a free contribution with no offer of future work, and any/all IP would all be 100% attributed to the project. (down the road if it makes sense to all involved, he'd like to be in position to be part of things)
I want to take him up on the offer, but am concerned that if we do not have a contract, from what I understand, he's automatically assigned IP ownership as soon as he writes any code – and that would be too risky/messy right now for the project regardless of verbal agreement.
What options do I have to take advantage of his gracious offer to help? Recommendations?