u***i
发帖数: 128 | 1 一位加州的朋友问我的问题，我没有这方面的经验也不敢贸然回答，希望这里那位大侠
能帮忙解答一下：
朋友刚刚从一家生物公司跳槽，现在想和几个人回国搞一个类似的生物公司在中国市场
做同样的产品。但是她担心跳槽前（或是受雇时）同公司签的合同中的anti-compete
clause，她的前公司是否会以此将她告上法庭呢？
我google了一下，似乎加州是唯一不enforce anti-compete clause的州，除非一些例
外情况，例如保护商业机密。不知道这家生物公司的技术（blood screening）能否算
做商业机密？那家公司能否以泄漏商业机密罪起诉她？
先在这里谢谢各位了。 |
c**d
发帖数: 3888 | 2 The old company may have a case. But covenants not to compete must be
limited, among other things, geographical scope. If her old company's
business is limited to U.S., her new company is limited to the Chinese
market, and there's proof that the old company will not enter the Chinese
market in the future, that may be a viable defense.
【在 u***i 的大作中提到】
: 一位加州的朋友问我的问题，我没有这方面的经验也不敢贸然回答，希望这里那位大侠
: 能帮忙解答一下：
: 朋友刚刚从一家生物公司跳槽，现在想和几个人回国搞一个类似的生物公司在中国市场
: 做同样的产品。但是她担心跳槽前（或是受雇时）同公司签的合同中的anti-compete
: clause，她的前公司是否会以此将她告上法庭呢？
: 我google了一下，似乎加州是唯一不enforce anti-compete clause的州，除非一些例
: 外情况，例如保护商业机密。不知道这家生物公司的技术（blood screening）能否算
: 做商业机密？那家公司能否以泄漏商业机密罪起诉她？
: 先在这里谢谢各位了。
|
u***i
发帖数: 128 | 3 Thank you for the response post. That's a great point. Her old company is
not doing business in China at the moment, although it does in Japan.
Do you have any thoughts on the case of trade secret appropriation?
【在 c**d 的大作中提到】
: The old company may have a case. But covenants not to compete must be
: limited, among other things, geographical scope. If her old company's
: business is limited to U.S., her new company is limited to the Chinese
: market, and there's proof that the old company will not enter the Chinese
: market in the future, that may be a viable defense.
|
c**d
发帖数: 3888 | 4 In that case, the old company may make a good argument that restricting your
friend's activities in China is reasonable.
I do not know enough facts to tell you which way this case will go,
including answering your question on trade secret misappropriation. In any
case, I do not feel comfortable rendering a detailed legal opinion online.
You should talk to a lawyer in the real world if you want to stay out of trouble.
【在 u***i 的大作中提到】
: Thank you for the response post. That's a great point. Her old company is
: not doing business in China at the moment, although it does in Japan.
: Do you have any thoughts on the case of trade secret appropriation?
|
u***i
发帖数: 128 | 5 Thanks a lot!
your
trouble.
【在 c**d 的大作中提到】
: In that case, the old company may make a good argument that restricting your
: friend's activities in China is reasonable.
: I do not know enough facts to tell you which way this case will go,
: including answering your question on trade secret misappropriation. In any
: case, I do not feel comfortable rendering a detailed legal opinion online.
: You should talk to a lawyer in the real world if you want to stay out of trouble.
|
j****i
发帖数: 496 | 6 Non-complete clause is unenforceable in California because it violates the
state's public policy. Period.
But your friend's former employer could sue hin in other jurisdiction or on
other grounds such as misappropriation of trade secrets or breach of duty of
loyalty depending on the facts of the case. If he is serious about
starting a company in China and getting into U.S. market, he should have
retained a legal counsel anyway. |
