> There are also some complicated cases — for example, for some of the sports models, I own them, but Disney gets to keep a copy when I leave.
As others have mentioned, he's very wise to have negotiated contracts so he keeps some IP, but those sports models might be what generate the most revenue.
Are there precedents for this in the tech world, where somebody can legally bring IP with them to a new role but the old employer/competitor keeps an exact copy? Seems like an unusual arrangement that'd be hard to sell the upside to somebody competing with Disney/ESPN.
> Are there precedents for this in the tech world, where somebody can legally bring IP with them to a new role but the old employer/competitor keeps an exact copy?
This is actually the standard arrangement, depending on how you define "tech world". In California for example a Proprietary Information And Inventions Agreement will include a provision along the lines of:
> If, in the course of my employment with the Company, I incorporate a Prior Invention into a Company product, process or machine, the Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license (with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees) to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I agree that I will not incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, Prior Inventions in any Company Inventions without the Company’s prior written consent.
Meaning anything you created before remains yours, even if, out of the kindness of your heart, you allow your employer to benefit from it.
What's unusual in Silver's case is maintaining that arrangement for a) the founder of a company, and b) through an acquisition.
How much value does the model actually have, in and of itself? It’s just a bunch of correlations, right? The value of the model is in the reporting that he does using it (articles, podcasts).
The competition would get value from having him host a show about it on their platform. Disney… I wonder if they even care about the model, or if they just took a license to it/current copy thing because, I dunno, maybe he offered it for really cheap.
I mean can you imagine, 538 but without the main character? It would be incredibly lame.
As others have mentioned, he's very wise to have negotiated contracts so he keeps some IP, but those sports models might be what generate the most revenue.
Are there precedents for this in the tech world, where somebody can legally bring IP with them to a new role but the old employer/competitor keeps an exact copy? Seems like an unusual arrangement that'd be hard to sell the upside to somebody competing with Disney/ESPN.
Also, that [poker bluff](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cVrlVzoh48) was very entertaining to watch. Apparently Nate's quite the poker player (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Silver#Economic_consultan...)