What would you do?
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If you found out a ex-coworker took/stole some code from the company I still work for? (I always suspected this would happen, and now found a Silverlight app he claimed to have developed, obviously I had to look ;P ) While the section of code is trivial, the only thing he bothered to change was the namespace. The rest is pretty much identical, except for it going with EF vs Linq2SQL. - Should I report it? - Should I keep it with me as a possible future bargaining/blackmailing tool? - Should I send him an invoice for the time he wasted in my company* when he originally developed the piece of code*? - Do nothing - Blackmail him? * The one I am still working for. * I had to rewrite the whole thing anyways, as it was crap. The stolen code was what I wrote, in fact.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth EditionWe call it 'synergic benchmarking'... :rolleyes:
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
If you found out a ex-coworker took/stole some code from the company I still work for? (I always suspected this would happen, and now found a Silverlight app he claimed to have developed, obviously I had to look ;P ) While the section of code is trivial, the only thing he bothered to change was the namespace. The rest is pretty much identical, except for it going with EF vs Linq2SQL. - Should I report it? - Should I keep it with me as a possible future bargaining/blackmailing tool? - Should I send him an invoice for the time he wasted in my company* when he originally developed the piece of code*? - Do nothing - Blackmail him? * The one I am still working for. * I had to rewrite the whole thing anyways, as it was crap. The stolen code was what I wrote, in fact.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth EditionIt's a difficult question to answer. Is it worth it (lawyers fees, time wasted, effort wasted, ...) ? Is this a very critical piece of code ? What could be the potential revenue loss for your current company ? Did he also took/stole customer lists/contacts ? M.
Watched code never compiles.
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leppie wrote:
ex-coworker took/stole some code from the company
How do you know it was that way round. Perhaps he wrote it in his spare time and donated it to the company. I've written code at home and published that I've then found useful in work. Yes there is a big question of legality and ownership here, but unless it's a massive component or full project perhaps it's worth starting by assuming it's a genuine mistake or oversight. Personally, when I hit on any idea I think I might want to publish at some point I ensure I only work on it at home. Then once it's published I import it into the work project following the same process we would use for any other 3rd party import with a full attribution in the source code or documentation as required by the license - other people might not be so aware of the issue though and just use code without quite thinking the implications through.
Simon
Simon P Stevens wrote:
How do you know it was that way round. Perhaps he wrote it in his spare time and donated it to the company.I've written code at home and published that I've then found useful in work.Yes there is a big question of legality and ownership here, but unless it's a massive component or full project perhaps it's worth starting by assuming it's a genuine mistake or oversight.
So very true.
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leppie wrote:
ex-coworker took/stole some code from the company
How do you know it was that way round. Perhaps he wrote it in his spare time and donated it to the company. I've written code at home and published that I've then found useful in work. Yes there is a big question of legality and ownership here, but unless it's a massive component or full project perhaps it's worth starting by assuming it's a genuine mistake or oversight. Personally, when I hit on any idea I think I might want to publish at some point I ensure I only work on it at home. Then once it's published I import it into the work project following the same process we would use for any other 3rd party import with a full attribution in the source code or documentation as required by the license - other people might not be so aware of the issue though and just use code without quite thinking the implications through.
Simon
Simon P Stevens wrote:
How do you know it was that way round. Perhaps he wrote it in his spare time and donated it to the company.
If he did, I rewrote it (as I said), it is the rewritten code that is an exact copy of the code I wrote. The last time that code was modified (version history) was by me, and about 1 - 2 months before he left our company.
Simon P Stevens wrote:
but unless it's a massive component or full project perhaps it's worth starting by assuming it's a genuine mistake or oversight.
It is rather trivial, but for that matter, the least he could have done is change type and member names here and there. And remember, Silverlight is just the tip of the iceberg. I highly suspect there to be more 'stolen' code in the backend.
Simon P Stevens wrote:
Personally, when I hit on any idea I think I might want to publish at some point I ensure I only work on it at home.
I agree, dont mix business with pleasure. In any case, I would make my code public before incorporating it into a business application.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
Almost everyone I know takes a copy of code when they leave a programming job, although generally it is for the re-use of cunning ideas that may help them in a new job to avoid having to reinvent solutions rather than with any malicious aforethought. An ex colleague of mine left with the entirety of that company's code base on his phone. And now I think of it another company I worked for (that became the market leader) based their entire system on a database schema that had come from a rival company with someone who moved from them.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
ChrisElston wrote:
Almost everyone I know takes a copy of code when they leave a programming job
I wouldn't...but that's mostly because I'm pretty sure my code is complete crap once I've written it :-( I mean, it works, and all...but it could always be better...more elegant, more beautiful...
Java, Basic, who cares - it's all a bunch of tree-hugging hippy cr*p CodeProject MVP for 2010 - who'd'a thunk it!
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leppie wrote:
ex-coworker took/stole some code from the company
How do you know it was that way round. Perhaps he wrote it in his spare time and donated it to the company. I've written code at home and published that I've then found useful in work. Yes there is a big question of legality and ownership here, but unless it's a massive component or full project perhaps it's worth starting by assuming it's a genuine mistake or oversight. Personally, when I hit on any idea I think I might want to publish at some point I ensure I only work on it at home. Then once it's published I import it into the work project following the same process we would use for any other 3rd party import with a full attribution in the source code or documentation as required by the license - other people might not be so aware of the issue though and just use code without quite thinking the implications through.
Simon
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So if someone steals something of yours, and you know who it is, you do nothing about it because obviously you did not do enough to protect it. Excellent judgement you have.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
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Anything I write or think up whilst employed by the company belongs to the company, regardless of whose time I do it on. My contract is very clear on that.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
ChrisElston wrote:
My contract is very clear on that.
Never make contracts with the Devil. What I do at home is my business. Do you really think a company would take responsibility for anything happening outside the company ground/hours?
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
If you found out a ex-coworker took/stole some code from the company I still work for? (I always suspected this would happen, and now found a Silverlight app he claimed to have developed, obviously I had to look ;P ) While the section of code is trivial, the only thing he bothered to change was the namespace. The rest is pretty much identical, except for it going with EF vs Linq2SQL. - Should I report it? - Should I keep it with me as a possible future bargaining/blackmailing tool? - Should I send him an invoice for the time he wasted in my company* when he originally developed the piece of code*? - Do nothing - Blackmail him? * The one I am still working for. * I had to rewrite the whole thing anyways, as it was crap. The stolen code was what I wrote, in fact.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
ChrisElston wrote:
Almost everyone I know takes a copy of code when they leave a programming job
I wouldn't...but that's mostly because I'm pretty sure my code is complete crap once I've written it :-( I mean, it works, and all...but it could always be better...more elegant, more beautiful...
Java, Basic, who cares - it's all a bunch of tree-hugging hippy cr*p CodeProject MVP for 2010 - who'd'a thunk it!
Some here, that's why I've never done it either. If I come up against something I know has been solved or that would help from a previous place I tend to still be friendly enough to e-mail and ask them for it. And I've never moved to a direct competitor of anyone I have previously worked for.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
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If you found out a ex-coworker took/stole some code from the company I still work for? (I always suspected this would happen, and now found a Silverlight app he claimed to have developed, obviously I had to look ;P ) While the section of code is trivial, the only thing he bothered to change was the namespace. The rest is pretty much identical, except for it going with EF vs Linq2SQL. - Should I report it? - Should I keep it with me as a possible future bargaining/blackmailing tool? - Should I send him an invoice for the time he wasted in my company* when he originally developed the piece of code*? - Do nothing - Blackmail him? * The one I am still working for. * I had to rewrite the whole thing anyways, as it was crap. The stolen code was what I wrote, in fact.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
I think that is the basic requirement which every company should take care or pay the price for it.
rahul
That dodges the issue. Of course companies should endeavour to safeguard their property, as should we all, but to say that nothing should be done when a possible culprit is identified is pretty moronic.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
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ChrisElston wrote:
My contract is very clear on that.
Never make contracts with the Devil. What I do at home is my business. Do you really think a company would take responsibility for anything happening outside the company ground/hours?
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
It's a difficult question to answer. Is it worth it (lawyers fees, time wasted, effort wasted, ...) ? Is this a very critical piece of code ? What could be the potential revenue loss for your current company ? Did he also took/stole customer lists/contacts ? M.
Watched code never compiles.
Maximilien wrote:
Is it worth it
From a personal point of view, yes. From an ethical point of view, yes. It is not up to me to take the matter further as the 'breach' is between him and the company I work for.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
harold aptroot wrote:
If 'they' find out some other way
Hahaha, like that will ever happen :) Currently I am the only fulltime .NET developer here, so I highly doubt it.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
Ignore it, the whole thing is not worth the time you will spend handling it. And don't expect anything as a reward from your company.
Rage wrote:
Ignore it
Tempting, but I wont forget :)
Rage wrote:
And don't expect anything as a reward from your company.
I am old enough to know not to expect anything from anyone.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
If you found out a ex-coworker took/stole some code from the company I still work for? (I always suspected this would happen, and now found a Silverlight app he claimed to have developed, obviously I had to look ;P ) While the section of code is trivial, the only thing he bothered to change was the namespace. The rest is pretty much identical, except for it going with EF vs Linq2SQL. - Should I report it? - Should I keep it with me as a possible future bargaining/blackmailing tool? - Should I send him an invoice for the time he wasted in my company* when he originally developed the piece of code*? - Do nothing - Blackmail him? * The one I am still working for. * I had to rewrite the whole thing anyways, as it was crap. The stolen code was what I wrote, in fact.
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth EditionIf he is still your friend then you can share/have the code :rolleyes:
thatraja |Chennai|India|
Tips/Tricks|Brainbench certifications
Do what you want quickly because the Doomsday on 2012 :-)
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If he is still your friend then you can share/have the code :rolleyes:
thatraja |Chennai|India|
Tips/Tricks|Brainbench certifications
Do what you want quickly because the Doomsday on 2012 :-)
thatraja wrote:
If he is still your friend
He never was. I detected his BS a week after I started (and almost quit then too).
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
That dodges the issue. Of course companies should endeavour to safeguard their property, as should we all, but to say that nothing should be done when a possible culprit is identified is pretty moronic.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
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Of course they are, it's in their own interest. If everyone at a company does not do what they can to mitigate loss, the company could easily go bust. Bust company, no job. No job, no money. Shimples!
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”