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who owns code written with Copilot — update in comments

Started by case_dismissed_69_32 · Feb 3, 2026 · 1,185 views · 18 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
CD
case_dismissed_69_32 OP

Quick background on my situation — any input appreciated.

who owns code written with Copilot. I've been dealing with this for about 16 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.

This involves content I created over the past 17 months. I do have documentation proving my ownership and timeline.

What are the risks if I pursue this? What's the likely timeline?

TL
TL_Moderator Moderator

I specialize in this area of law. Here's my take on the legal issues.

This is a common situation and the law is fairly clear. Under the DMCA safe harbor provisions, compliant with notice requirements.

Before taking legal action, consider sending a formal demand letter. In many cases, this alone resolves the issue.

BW
brandon.w_3

I've dealt with this before.

What worked for me was filing with the appropriate government agency. It took 4-8 months but was worth it.

HB
hannah_b_30

Have you tried reaching out to your state's labor board? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

NI
nightshift_24

Went through something like this -- ended up getting a lawyer involved which made all the difference.

PB
plea_bargain_bob_6

I mean this comes up a lot.

I demanded to talk to a manager and suddenly they could help/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.

ST
startuplife_13

Been there. Here's what I learned.

I had to go over their head/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.

JE
jenny_2024_10

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

What worked for me was hiring an attorney to send the initial letter. It took 2-4 months but was worth it.

TD
TransactionalLaw_Dan_31

Have you tried reaching out to your state's labor board? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

PB
plea_bargain_bob_2

I've dealt with this before.

I ended up hiring an attorney to send the initial letter, which cost about $2-4 but saved me a lot more in the long run sadly.

AT
another_throwaway_15

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

In my case, it took about 3-6 months to resolve. The key was having everything documented.

EA
exhibit_a_hole_10

So this is more common than people think.

The #1 mistake I see here is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.

MT
mike_t_19

I work in this industry and unfortunately this is very common. The good news is that when people actually push back with legal representation, companies usually settle.

CE
cant_even_anymore_26

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

OF
overtime_forever_16

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long imo.

NA
need_advice_asap_2

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

What worked for me was hiring an attorney to send the initial letter. It took 2-4 months but was worth it.

PT
paycheck_to_paycheck_27

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

FWL
officelife_5 Contributor

Reminder that many states have free or low-cost dispute resolution programs run by the state court system. In California, check your county's ADR program — mediation is often available for free or under $200. Much faster than litigation.

CAM
deleted_user_alt_2

Can confirm the demand letter approach works. I used a template from a legal website, customized it with my specific facts and statutory references, sent it via certified mail, and had a settlement check within 30 days. Total cost: $7 for postage.