Open Source Software Economic Development

Am I allowed to develop open source software if I am working as a developer within a company?

If I am a developer in a company that makes accounting software, can I write open source accounting software? Can I write any open source software if I am employed as a commercial developer?

Public Comments

1. I believe that you can as an individual if you are not on company time or using company equipment.
2. check your hr registration material that u signed. try to ask hr . if uncomfortable, try to ask it anymously
3. For my company no. All developers had to sign paperwork indicating all development done while working with employer is the property of employer. Did you have to sign something of that sort?
4. As the one answer said as long as it is on your own time and your own equipment there is nothing they can say, unless you are using their ideas or writing software that competes or works in their industry. The later would be a conflict of interest and you can be sued for that. If you don't do it while at work. You don't use any company equipment or software. And you don't use any company ideas or resources then you are free to do it. If you have a good relationship with you boss it doesn't hurt to mention it to them, just in case. Note: if you did sign something as someone else suggested that is not enforcable, at least in Canada, if you can prove you didn't not use company equipment, etc.
5. Only as long as you are doing at home on your own computer. Anything you create on a company computer, technically becomes their property. And provided your programs do not affect the company you work for. You technically can't not write software that is like theirs. It would need to be absolutely different coding.