Copyright a database

[Guest]

I have written a database for my current employer on software supplied by
them. Am i allowed to copyright the database?? I did quite a bit of work at
home in my own time and want to know if i can charge them to use my work??

 

[Kjell Harnesk]

I have written a database for my current employer on software supplied by
them. Am i allowed to copyright the database?? I did quite a bit of work at
home in my own time and want to know if i can charge them to use my work??

By Swedish laws Your company has the copyright but You could always
negotiate for salary for the hours You did at home.

K

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

As Kjell's answer points out, there's no simple yes or no answer. Where
you're located matters. What employment agreements you've signed with your
employer matter. If you're really determined, you'd be best advised to
contact a lawyer who specializes in this topic.

 

[David W. Fenton]

I have written a database for my current employer on software
supplied by them. Am i allowed to copyright the database?? I did
quite a bit of work at home in my own time and want to know if i
can charge them to use my work??

By most copyright laws, no -- your work for your employer falls
under "work for hire" and the copyright is owned by them, *unless*
you have an explicit legal agreement with them granting you the
contract (i.e., reversing the default copyright).

But, as others have said, where you are located, the laws may be
different (though I doubt there's anywhere that it's not considere
some form of "work for hire").