Today we have to turn in our packets that have our signed contracts with the new bosses.

We got them two days ago and I read through it last night. Of course I'm no lawyer so it took a little bit of doing to figure it out and I still have a million questions.

Most importantly since I'm a copywriter everything I deliver is intellectual property of my employers. Which makes sense. But the whole "Inventions" has me really confused. I can understand not taking part of the code of the programs we run and playing with it to create a new program and selling it on my own.

But I don't understand if I use my writing skill for other (non-work) things when it will and when it won't belong to my employers. Will journal entries belong to them? Is there a difference between work created at home or at work? If I write background stories for my gaming characters does that belong to them? What if I participate in Nanowrimo? A lot of people I work with are here to pay their bills until their script/play/pilot/treatment/etc sells. How will this impact them/us?


Also I'm contractually obligated not to work for anyone else, which makes sense. But what about gigs that I don't expect to make any money for. If I mount a play I'm far more likely to lose money, but am I considered employed, even if by myself? Does that mean I have to ask for permission to participate in plays? What about freelance work to supplement my income?


Also I don't know exactly how far I am/am not allowed to go into in explaining my work or even talking about any of the goings-on. I know enough not to talk about specific details about our relationships with our clients (this goes doubly for partners, but I don't know much about them). But I'll probably not talk about my work here for a little while until I get some questions answered.