Has anyone heard about this policy? I couldn't find where I had read about it but apparently with some more main stream companies they have this.

The article said something about if you work for a company with this policy, any game idea you come up with on your own, you must sell to them or you can't create it(with being fired or sued i assume)

Anyone have more details, perhaps a direct experience?

A non-compete clause is designed to prevent people from defecting to competing companies with trade secrets or other bad faith issues.

An intellectual property clause is designed so things you make on company time or with company property belong to them, not to you. Generally it applies to things you do at work - if you work for Company A, and they have an Sony DevKit in the office, it's going to look a little suspicious if one day you sell a PlayStation engine to Company B.

Your contract usually spells out any non-compete, intellectual property, and moonlighting policies, and what's allowed under the law can differ between states.

thank you.

[font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"]In Australia, the IP ownership part is simply the law -- not a part of a contract -- and there's no 'selling' involved. e.g. if you invent something that's applicable to the business of your full-time employer, then they own the invention, whether you came up with it while at work or while at home.[/font][font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"] [/font]
[font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"] [/font]
[font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"]All my contracts have always spelled this out, however, I've seen a lot of people simply ask the boss for permission (e.g. "I want to make and sell an iPhone game at home"[/font][font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"]) and everything's been fine.[/font]



[font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"] [/font]Non-compete clauses are largely non-enforceable bullshit though.

Likewise, my non-compete clause only says that inventions that could directly compete with the company are considered automatically owned by the company. Thankfully the company work for isn't a game company!

Has anyone heard about this policy? I couldn't find where I had read about it but apparently with some more main stream companies they have this.

It would help us answer you better if we knew why you were asking.
a. If you're thinking about starting a company and wondering what you should put in your employment contracts, you should hire an attorney experienced with employment law in your state or country.
b. If you're wondering what policy you'll be subject to if/when you get hired, we can't tell you, because it depends on what wording will be in your employment agreement (the one you haven't seen or signed yet).
c. If you're wondering what policy you're subject to under your current existing employment, we can't tell you -- you would have to read your contract and advisedly also speak with your supervisor and/or HR person.