>Al,
>
>>>Al,
>>>
>>>
>>>>>Al,
>>>>I have no idea what sort of employment agreement or whatever else is in place. My guess agrees with yours, that if the company can prove ownership of the computer it also owns all content. However, I can't help but wonder if a computer is really just a form of paper. If I "borrow" a ream of paper from you and write my magnum opus, do you own it? You may own the paper but not necessarily the information embodied on it...
>>>
>>>
>>>One quick reply here.. I'd disagree.. As I understand it, as an employee you automatically give up certain rights to your employer. In your example of borrowing paper that's kind of like comparing apples & oranges. I'd think a better analogy would be this: If you wrote your magnum opus on company time, using company paper, does the comapny have any rights to the work?
>>
>>Well, if it was on company time, of course... but what if it wasn't?
>
>Well, that's why you'd want to find out what agreements have been written. Still, I'd have to think that the data is the companies. I mean, if this guy was an employee I'd think that that alone would settle the matter firmly. Still, lawyers and law can be strange at times...

No kidding. Interestingly, the first thing my lawyer asked is if he is/was a company director and/or shareholder. He was a director (at least), so I guess that muddies the waters further still.

My lawyer seems to think that as long as the company is willing to make certain representations then it's safe for me to do the work. I've got him drafting a letter to that effect.