Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Hindered by a Non-Compete Agreement

Are you sick and tired of getting instructions from your employer? Do you find it annoying to follow company rules that limit your growth and potentials? Do you want to explore something new and have your own firm in Los Angeles?
If you have the financial resources and the substantial amount of knowledge and skills in running a business, then why not establish your own corporate venture. The only thing is; are you covered by a non-compete agreement?
If yes, pause for a while and closely examine some legal implications you may face if you decide to continue. It would be better to consult some corporate law attorneys in Los Angeles for proper advice and assistance.
Non-compete or non-disclosure agreements have been the tool of most employers in California to protect the vital information about their company operations. These contracts impede the workers who signed it from revealing such business data and procedures to others or utilizing it for any purposes competing against the company.
Thus, if you have signed a confidentiality contract but still you pursue in establishing your own business, your employer may charge you of breach. In this case, you will have to prove in court that you did not use your former company’s information in any manner that is prohibited in the contract.
Meanwhile, under the Trade Secret Law, employees who have been exposed to confidential information are subjected to several legal; restrictions. This means that even you have not been engaged in any confidentiality agreement, the Intellectual Property statutes are still applicable to protect the welfare of the business owners.
Let me enumerate some things that you may perform to minimize the possibility of being charged if you want to risk in initializing your own business.
  1. With the assistance of a corporate law attorney, examine the agreement that you have signed with your former company. Follow your attorney’s advice to avoid the consequences
  1. Make a list of all the information you have learned from your former company and forget these things. Consider learning other knowledge and skills by attending classes and seminars.
  1. Avoid contacting the customers of your former employer, let them contact you.
  1. Try establishing a business, which is completely unrelated with your former employer.
  1. Let a corporate attorney in Los Angeles guide you in every performances that you do.