ControlEngineer - 7:47 pm on Jul 20, 2005 (gmt 0)

I have had to sign a number of agreements relating to my engineering work. Some were not compete, others involved non-disclosure, some were both.

One thing I have learned from discussions with lawyers (and from my college business law instructor many years ago) is if you sign a contract to do something or to not do something, you have an agreement and you must follow it unless there is a law saying otherwise. The laws vary by state. So when I am handed a contract I either am prepared to live with the terms or find out from a lawyer in that state that the courts will not enforce particular terms.

In some states non-compete agreements can be enforced and can be dangerous things to sign. So always read them, and talk to a lawyer if necessary.

That has kept me out of trouble, so far.