Working on the side, is it legal?

Posted on: Wed, 20/08/2008 - 20:37
Working on the side, is it legal?

Hi,
I could not find a definitive answer to this so was hoping some one could help on the forum.
I am currently working full time as an E-Marketing Specialist for a company.
I want to set up a web site that makes money from affiliate advertising and then eventually grow this into offering consultancy.
It would not be competing in anyway with my current employer by working within my skill set. I want to "test and learn" until I know what kind of revenue can be generated to see if this could be good enough to quit my current job.
I have the standard contact clause relating to sections 39 and 40 of the patents act relating to employee inventions and also a clause stating:
"May not without prior consent of the company engage whether directly or indirectly, in any business or employement which is similar in any way concerned with, connected or competitice with the business of the company whether within or ourside your hours of work for the company"
I have been working on the web site the majoriy of the time in my own time but have sent myself some of my own personal files from my work PC.

I do not want to jepodise my current job as I get paid well, just bored really and want to go my own way.

I have not registered my self yet as a business but wanted to keep the structure very simple in case I decide this is not the best path based on the Return on Investment of my time..

Any advice on how I should set up and keep it clean with no conflicts with my current employer

Thanks


Posted on: Fri, 22/08/2008 - 20:58 #1
Legal....

It's obviously not entirely legal, but then you gotta wonder, is hog tying creativity with these tight contracts entirely moral?

Some honest people have been robbed blind ( I know one personally ) because their creative stuff was summarily hijacked by their employers with barely a bonus to show for it. And we're talking international patents on everyday objects here.

The contracts are heavily weighted in the employers favour, and can be used unfairly by the unscrupulous. Obviously people have to protect themselves, but their should be some wording to protect the creative rights of an innovator .

I'm tempted to say you could maybe get someone to front you for the tryout.

Slightly Shady Anne