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Not sure why you're being downvoted. Obviously there's something controversial about noncompetes but to me they seem problematic on their face, like something that violates basic contract law and shouldn't require explicit banning by the FTC, congress, or anyone. A judge should find them unconstitutional or something.

Let's say this was marriage, and you had people requiring spouses sign a "noncompete agreement" with marriage, so that the person, upon divorce, agrees not to date or marry anyone else within a certain distance, which amounts to hundreds of miles.

Is there really any question that that would not be an enforceable contract?

It doesn't seem any different to me legally.

It might also seem extreme but I also don't see how this doesn't violate the 13th amendment ban on involuntary servitude. You're not working for the employer, but you are in effect providing some labor benefit to them against your will, without compensation.




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