[StaticRedux]

"inventions" is not used in the same context as you would use it when talking about an inventor, like Tesla or Edison.

It's legalize. It depends on the language in the contract, but it usually includes everything under the sun, including creative works like books.

Sometimes there is a clarification for anything that can be related to your work, my current employer does that, but I've seen others without that. Which basically says they own you and everything you do or even think while employed by them.

[davismwfl]

This has been my experience too. When I had my consulting practice we were very careful on the contracts and always had an attorney review any proposed changes to the MSA or SOW that had any material feel to it. It was not uncommon for startups and enterprises alike to send us things to add to our MSA or ask us to use their contract "for simplicity and speed" but when we would review their suggestions around assignment of IP/inventions it was rare to find one that wasn't overreaching. Most were pretty cool about changing it and I think didn't realize how far reaching their attorneys had made it, and that wasn't their intent. Others I think were fully aware and felt that was their right if we did any work for their company, so we never worked with those teams.

[brlewis]

Sorry, I should have specified: This is in the United States. Here "inventions" is specifically patentable stuff. See https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/general-inform...

[StaticRedux]

I'm in the US too.

Inventions is usually defined in the contract itself and does not necessarily apply to patentable things.

This is just my personal experience, so take it for what it's worth, though I do have a fair amount of experience with contracts and non-competes.

[brlewis]

That seems weird to me, that a contract would redefine a term that already has a legal meaning, but there are weird things in law.