[anamax]

> My worst case : Idea goes live. Initial projection of time dragged. But the organizer plays dishonesty and kicks me / other coders out, taking the whole share.

More likely - organizer claims that your contribution is worth significantly less than you think that it is. (Perhaps he'll say something along the lines of "it was my great idea and organization while anyone could have done what you did".) You get a pittance and walk away, mad. On the way out, you'll sign over what you did.

Point out that you own everything that you create until there's a formal agreement otherwise and that that will make it impossible to get investment. The organizer will probably then decide that such a formal agreement is necessary. At that point, you point out that said formal agreement needs to include "consideration" for you. (It actually doesn't, but ....)

[log0]

This looks to me a likely and very miserable position to be in, and embarrassing.

[fatdog789]

Not entirely true -- the presumption now is that the company owns the IP for stuff done on behalf of the company. Of course, this is just a presumption, so it's easily rebutted, by example, showing that you received no compensation (no one works for free).

But the legal uncertainty would discourage investment.

[anamax]

> Not entirely true -- the presumption now is that the company owns the IP for stuff done on behalf of the company.

Where is this presumption?

Copyright and patent law in the US specifically says that folks earn what they make outside of an explicit agreement otherwise. (And, that agreement can be for no pay - you can work for free.)

BTW - What company? He said that it was unregistered.

[log0]

Right. The point is whether someone would register the company only after revenue starts pumping in, which looks odd to me now.

[anamax]

Note that a "company" can exist without registration (which I took to mean incorporation or the creation of some other legal entity). A sole proprietorship, where the "idea guy" personally owns everything, is one such type of company. Partnerships can be another.

In short, I probably shouldn't have asked what company. Or, I should have been more paranoid and asked if there's actually a legal entity and it's just not writing any contracts with the help.