Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site bnl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!sbcs!bnl!sasw From: sasw@bnl.UUCP (Steven Akiba Swernofsky) Newsgroups: net.legal Subject: Re: Intellectual property agreements with an employer Message-ID: <349@bnl.UUCP> Date: Sat, 18-Feb-84 16:53:03 EST Article-I.D.: bnl.349 Posted: Sat Feb 18 16:53:03 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 19-Feb-84 08:21:43 EST References: <1246@unc-c.UUCP> Lines: 15 Re this question -- Another question w.r.t. Scott Orshan's article: Could they keep you from earning a living in your trade/profession? I haven't seen Scott's article, but employee "agreements not to compete" are generally unenforceable. Almost all states hold that the only time an agreement like this can be enforced is when it is attendant to a sale of a business, where the seller agrees not to start a similar business in competition. (Even so, the agreement must be reasonable as to time and place.) New York allows them only if the employee is "special, unique, or extraordinary" -- and you practically have to be a star athlete to qualify in that category. -- Steve