Has anyone dealt with something like this? I'm not sure what my options are.
employer claiming my side project IP. I've been dealing with this for about 8 months now and the situation isn't improving.
This involves software/code I developed over the past 18 months. I do have documentation proving my ownership and timeline.
What's the typical outcome in situations like this?
Have you tried reaching out to your state's bar association? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.
NAL, but from what I've read, you should document everything. That's the general rule anyway, exceptions exist.
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.
Have you documented the creation date and your original work? That's key for any IP claim.
Copyright registration isn't required but it helps a lot with damages.