UBS files code theft lawsuit

In the first instance, if stealing code from your employer is illegal then the law should be applied. Without particular reference to this case it did get me wondering why obviously bright people do things which on the surface appear to be less than bright.

I am left to wonder the specific terms of employment contracts ie. 'any intellectual property you come up with while working for us belongs to us', probably carries the same weight as 'we will pay you according to this bonus structure'.

Perhaps if an employee was not paid according to the terms of the employment contract (ie bonuses) then are all bets off?

Take it a step further and perhaps the employer has gone bankrupt and the employee has not received their full entitlements, do they have a right to take out a lien against some intellectual property they have created whilst working for the company?

Is 'they canceled my bonus' (perhaps for political reasons) a  defense?

Whatever the reason for the theft one simply cannot take the law into one's own hands, even if the perpetrator believes that he is justified in doing what he did.

 
Dean's question "why obviously bright people do things which on the surface appear to be less than bright" does need an answer. Bright people think that they are SO bright that they are going to get away with it or to put it another way, that they can fool all of the people all of the time.

Remember with both the Goldman Sachs guy and these UBS ex-employees, they have only been accused of theft, not convicted of theft. Let people, (even evil quant traders), be innocent until proven guilty, guys!