Anyone familiar with software copyright law?

Looking for someone in a similar pickle:

I have designed a Host-based Intrusion Prevention System using tricks that I learned from several of my previous companies. I haven't used anyone else's code, just the tricks, using my own code. Now my last company is breathing down my neck because my stuff resembles their stuff.
In my mind it's like adding a dialog box to software, just because I learned how to code dialog boxes at one company, doesn't mean I can't program dialogs ever again. Maybe I'm wrong here...

TurboTramp

 

Get a copy of any employment contracts you've signed and get a lawyer.

If any of these "tricks" were patented or the process has some sort of utility patent, then there could be a problem. Make sure the lawyer you get has experience in Intellectual Property laws.

Save all correspondence between you and the company that is pressing you and cease all communications from here on in until you've acquired counsel. I would also suggest you hold off on any sales of the software if you are selling it, just incase.

http://www.hg.org/intell.html