Q: Do I have to give credit to former group members when starting up a software company?
I am interested in creating a program that I started in college for a capstone class. In the capstone class I worked with a group and did research for the program but we never finished it or put it forward as a complete product. I am using some of the feedback we received from the version of the program we created to create a completely new program alone. I was unsure as to whether or not I had to include my former group members in the new project that I will be attempting to sell if it works when all that I am using from that is some of the ideas that we got from people for an incomplete project and for the basic idea of the project? And to what extent I would need to credit them and give them a share of profits?
A: Ideas themselves are not patentable - they have to be put into use. If you alone write a program based on ideas developed by a group, then unless there was a contract or other agreement among the group or with the college, you own the copyright on the program, and are entitled to profit from the sales without sharing. Whether you share is more an ethical issue than a legal issue. But anybody can sue anyone for anything. If other members of the group learn you have done that, they could sue to get a piece of the profits, but they would have to prove a legal basis to be entitled to profits. Use the Find a Lawyer tab and retain a local business attorney who can review all the facts of the situation and advise you.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
