Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I`ve been working for a software development company, where I developed a new security module for a system that this company sells. Writing this software gave me some ideas on how this can be adapted/rewritten for a broader audience and sold as a stand alone product. My question here is, if it is legally possible to develop a product using some of the ideas that I`ve learned while working on the project. To clarify I don`t intend to use/steal any code base from that existing product but rather apply the ideas/solutions that I have came up with or learned while in the process of the development. My fear is that the company that I`ve developed the product for will consider my product as a copy, since it will implement some of the functionality that the product they sell.

Thanks.

Most cases of this type that are litigated involve somebody that probably honestly felt he/she was not stealing.  The scope of the intellectual property of the company and your relationship with the company will be important to discuss with your lawyer.

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James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com