To Compete or Non-Compete

I was going to post some practical information about the effect and validity of non-compete agreements in California (they’re generally not enforceable) and alternatives that California businesses have to non-compete agreements to protect their businesses from employees who go to work for competitors (hint: it has to do with confidentiality agreements and non-disclosure agreements–which are enforceable), but there is an interesting exchange occurring right now on the net regarding overall policy relating to non-compete agreements which was started by some comments of Bijan Sabet last weekend (Mr. Sabet is a partner at Spark Capital in Boston, Mass.).

Essentially, the invalidity of non-compete agreements in California has been a source of consternation for many business owners trying to protect their businesses from employees leaving for competitors. On the flip side, proponents of non-competes have pointed to the explosion of businesses and technology in Silicon Valley as evidence that the California legislature got it right when they invalidated the non-compete agreement because of its function as a barrier to free markets. So who’s right?