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Email Ownership

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by atxstranger

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So I have a really weird situation and would like some extra opinions on what to do.

I work for a 6 partner accounting firm and at the end of the month one of the partners is leaving the partnership. After a conversation the partner just had with me, I get the feeling that he wants to take his email information (address book and emails) with him.

When asked a couple of weeks ago, this was my take on the subject of e-mail ownership: We have an e-mail policy that states all information in the e-mail system is the property of the company. If any other employee was leaving, taking their e-mail with them is not an option. Therefore the e-mail should not transfer with the partner to the new company but it is ok for his address book to transfer.

Does anyone else have opinions on who owns the email or experience with this kind of situation and what was done. Thanks a bunch.

3 replies

by dr dij

they should forward a copy to their home address. That sounds bizarre but inexperienced users sometimes don't think thru the consequences of using their work PC for personal use.

Or did he want to take copy of biz emails? That would sound like company confidential info.

by atxstranger

Its probably a combination of both. We allow limited personal use with the understanding that your personal emails sent on our system become property of the company (therefore eligible to be used by lawyers, etc). The partner in question just wants to take all his email for his records really.

by antuck

Looks like you have a policy and it should be enforced. Since it states all information in the email system is the property of the company, then the partner should not be able to take with them. Especially if no one else would be allowed to. I also belive a rulling in courts has already established the fact any information residing on a companies computer is the companies property. Now what the other partners will allow is another thing.

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