[ashwinaj]

So you're okay with the fact that they are kinda-sorta exploiting you (by not including you as a co-patent holder) but have reservations on employees utilizing company resources to further their career?

That seems like a really raw deal to me. You might argue that you are "paid" to do this; not really, you can just coast on 9-5 and draw the same (or in the same ballpark) paycheck as someone who is busting his behind to invent something. Also when there is downsizing you might think that contributions is the only thing that matters, but it is demonstrably not (I'm speaking about regular companies not a small startup).