So you MIGHT be breeding competitors, therefore you have to ask for any and all IP? A bit over-reaching it seems. There is really no need for it in most cases, the only reason they always ask for it is because nobody ever questions the practice.
You can call it overreaching; I don't mind. But you just disqualified yourself from a big chunk of otherwise interesting jobs. It's not like I'm making up the fact that software startups have non-negotiable IP clauses.
You want a really fun non-negotiable clause? Come up with something "patentable", then quit. You can be forced to work on the patent application, a year later, at a rate set by your ex-employer. Happened to me.
Well, so yo should have kept it to yourself to preserve your own best interest. That's exactly the problem with that situation, it stimulates you to work 9-5 and keep quiet about everything and anything. I think that situation is broken.
And it's strange how you, an apparent victim of the system, come to its defense. Doesn't compute.
