I'm dealing with a situation and need some guidance.
employer claiming my side project IP. I've been dealing with this for about 2 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.
This involves software/code I developed over the past 24 months. I do not have documentation proving my ownership and timeline.
Should I hire a lawyer for this or try to handle it myself?
Classic scenario honestly.
Here's where people usually go wrong is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.
NAL, but from what I've read, you should document everything. Obviously I don't know all the details of your situation though.
Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.
Don't make the same mistake I did -- is having everything documented. I'd recommend keeping a detailed timeline instead.
Fair use is a defense, not a right. The four factors (purpose, nature, amount, market effect) are balanced on a case-by-case basis. Transformative use helps, but it doesn't guarantee fair use.