Drawing Ownership

[TimmyH76]

Hello all,

Who legally has rights to drawings once they are issued other than the Client? If I work for a company and am the E.O.R. do I have a legal right to have the drawings if I leave the company? Thanks.

 

[civilperson]

Maybe and maybe not. You should have a copy of everything with your seal or your signature. Whether you have the right to reproduce or sell the ideas contained within depends on your agreement with your employer.

 

[whyun]

You are professionally responsible for the state of construction documents you've produced with your stamp and signature at the time you leave the company. Though it is at the discretion of the company, they should allow you to keep a copy for your records. Any changes made to your drawings by a new E.O.R. that takes over is the responsibility of the new E.O.R. For this reason alone, the company should let you keep a copy.

I'm not aware of any legal rights but if the drawings you stamped and signed contain company's standard details and so on, it is unethical to reuse them for projects at your new company. Then again, many "content" of structural typical details are essentially code based which can not be copyrighted, thus you may generate your own details "based" on some of these details.

Copying and pasting your previous firm's CAD details on your future company's projects (regardless whether you reviewed the content) could result in a lawsuit.

 

[Grizzman]

"Copying and pasting your previous firm's CAD details on your future company's projects (regardless whether you reviewed the content) could result in a lawsuit."

This, of course, assumes;
a) they can prove you copy and pasted said material. (vs reproducing them)
b) they somehow find out you've done this
c) the idea you've C&P'd is a unique solution created by said company (and not by yourself while working there)