My employer has just asked me to sign an updated confidential information and invention assignment agreement and I came across this clause which I haven’t seen before and seemed a bit invasive. I’ve signed several agreements that prevent you from going to competitors for a year or two after leaving but haven’t seen this one yet.
“Future Innovations. I will disclose promptly in writing to Company all Innovations conceived, reduced to practice, created, derived, developed, or made by me during my employment with Company and for three (3) months thereafter, whether or not I believe the Innovations are subject to this Agreement, to permit a determination by Company as to whether or not the Innovations are or should be considered Company Innovations. Company will receive that information in confidence.”
Has anyone else come across something like this? Is this normal? Any ideas on how to handle it?
I'm not a lawyer but the majority of times I've pushed back on a contract clause via a polite email with some common sense about why it's one-sided, unreasonable, or doesn't make sense there's been some fair changes made.