Well presuming that i still had source code available to me then I suppose i wouldn't laugh you out of the room. But I suspect I would still insist that anything that encapsulated my business processes would remain my posession alone.

Update: Just to make a point I dont have a problem with the use of open source and the process of contributing back modifications made to it. Nor would i have a problem with opensourcing much of the generic part of a product developed for me. I do mind having that code be closed source and not available to me as the customer who funded its initial development.

I do mind having that code be closed source and not available to me as the customer who funded its initial development.

I guess that depends on what level the funding was. If the employer wants to get something on the cheap by hiring a part time consultant and avoiding paying benefits, I'd have no problems with the consultant hanging on to their rights. There is also a difference between one-time use and permanent use e.g. the difference between a temporary sign and a logo. If the employer pays the rate for a temporary sign and then expects to get the logo, I have no problems with the designer keeping the logo rights. If the employer pays for the logo at a fair rate then the consultant doesn't have much argument for retaining those rights.