This is a Big Question, so if someone can answer it, it would be greatly appreciated:

How much of this stuff comes into play only if it's spelled out in your employment contract, and how much is simply the result of state law?

I ask because I'm contemplating getting involved in making source code contributions, but there was nothing, nada, in my contract that stated anything about them owning off-hours work. I'm professional, for a non-tech company (which is probably why no such agreement was in anything I signed), located in neither NY nor CA, the only states anyone seems to bring up. The manager told me that they don't care (if that matters), pointing out so-and-so in another division who does his own business in the off hours. What concerns me is if I can get burned even though I didn't sign anything granting them such rights, simply because of the state's legal codes.

I have no anticipation of any real concerns or conflicts coming up, but better to be forewarned, and forearmed, than caught by surprise if the corporate climate ever changes.

(tilly, I realize you don't want to post actual code, but if you have any further clarifications of facts to share, it'd be appreciated.)

Sign me...
-- Perry G. Noyed.