'I have been hunted down by HR reps, lawyers, and comms people:' Developers discuss the pain and prevalence of side work clauses

Developers across multiple studios report side-work clauses in employment contracts are broadly restricting personal projects, with some facing legal threats for work done outside company time. Double Fine's 2023 documentary revealed Microsoft's stance that rejected side projects create "messy boundaries" the publisher might revisit later. Wizards of the Coast unionizing workers claimed in May 2026 that approval processes for side work receive "blanket denials" or go unanswered indefinitely. Multiple developers described enforcement as aggressive, with some pursued by HR, lawyers, and communications staff over personal projects. Legal experts note many clauses exceed what state and federal law permits, but workers bear the burden of challenging them.

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Appeared in 2026-07-28.