21. Navigating Intellectual Property and Ownership Conflicts

Episode 21 - Side Hustles and IP: How to Avoid Ownership Conflicts

🎙 Host: Nathan Pearce

📅 Episode Release Date: 3/31/2025

💬 Episode Summary:

If you’re building a side hustle while holding down a full-time job, there’s one thing you can’t afford to ignore: intellectual property and ownership conflicts. This episode is your friendly guide to navigating that tricky space where your 9-to-5 meets your personal passion projects.

We’ll cover what to look for in your employment contract, how to keep clear boundaries with company resources, and why originality and legal awareness matter more than ever when you’re moonlighting on your dreams.

🎧 In this episode, we explore:

• How employment contracts—like work-for-hire, non-compete, and confidentiality clauses—can affect your side hustle

• Why using company tools or time for personal projects is a recipe for confusion

• The importance of setting clear boundaries between work hours and hustle hours

• How to create original work without crossing any legal or ethical lines

• When and why to seek legal advice to protect yourself and your projects

🛠️ Actionable Takeaways:

• Review your employment contract for clauses that might impact your side hustle

• Avoid using company software, devices, or time for personal projects

• Set clear working hours and a dedicated space for your hustle

• Ensure your side hustle ideas are truly your own, not your employer’s

• If you’re unsure, consult a legal professional for clarity and peace of mind

🧠 Reflective Questions:

• Have you looked closely at your employment contract lately?

• Are you using any company-owned tools or time for your personal work?

• How are you separating your full-time job from your passion projects?

• Are your side hustle ideas 100% your own?

✨ Final Thought:

Protecting your creative freedom starts with understanding your boundaries. With a little foresight and integrity, you can pursue your side hustle confidently—without crossing any lines that could come back to bite you. Stay smart, stay original, and hustle with clarity.