regardign the "idea being protected by a patent", i meant if worded carefully with the necessary legal mumbo jumbo... (eg in australia, software patents are usually titled - a way using a COMPUTER to do steps explained in algorithm X)
well it is certainly illegal ... ethics are fudged... using the source code or work derived from the code is certainly unethical (i think) because your code was paid by the employer..
but the actual idea? well where would you guys classify this? i think the actual idea unless protected by a patent is open.. also a lot of companies put a no-compete clause forbidding working for another company in the same domain ... (even though in some countries thats against the law)
i thought that would be as soon as you have enough resources to be able to do so! so if you are single then that could mean just moving in with your parents and working off their garage! while if you have a mortgage then finding a wealthy angel to pay you a year's salary!
Not communicating and collaborating with other "geeks" in Uni, especially being one myself. I had always been interested in doing my own projects at Uni, but never had it struck me that it would be very beneficial to form a group and start something (like a startup?).