Scrivener of Doom
Adventurer
Not part of law, but "non-compete" clauses in contracts are common. If you work for me, you cannot turn around and then go to work for one of my direct competitors for a time. This is meant to prevent you from taking current knowledge of my business and clients to my competitors.
In Massachusetts, non-competes are nearly unenforceable in court, but in some other places, and in some industries, I'm told they stick pretty well.
Yeah, they're unenforceable in Oz also and that's a decision made by our High Court (the equivalent of your Supreme Court) so it's essentially established in law. I think the only time it can be enforced, and the US does this a lot, is where the person accepts an offer of payment for the non-compete period which is a de facto extension of his or her employment.
Anyway, the main point seems to be that Next is going to be released - I am thinking of counting to 100 while playing hide and seek: "Ready or not, here I come!" - and so the regular retrenchments are coming back.