Quoting Joseph Hick (leet16y@yahoo.com): > i don't understand how can the law allow my employer encroach on my > personal life? USA law in general permits you to stupidly sign away (most) rights you would otherwise enjoy via one-sided contracts, and the burden is on you to realise that they're not in your interest, and that you shouldn't sign them. However, there are exceptions (abusive contract provisions that are automatically void by statute) in some areas including employment law; as John Cowan says, the amount of statutory protection against predatory employment contracts depends on on state jurisdiction. For California, here's a reference on proprietary inventions agreements, covered in Labor Code section 2870-2872 (i.e., by statute law): http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/lab/2870-2872.html In brief: Regardless of what anything you sign purports to establish to the contrary, whatever you create entirely on your own time with your own resources is YOURS, not your employer's. Caveat: The burden of proof that you meet those conditions is on you. (Keep diaries and changelogs, for example.) Here are references on non-compete clauses, covered in California by Business and Professions Code section 16600 (another body of statute law): http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/bpc/16600-16607.html http://www.fed.org/onlinemag/Feb00/tips.htm In brief: No employment-related covenant not to compete can shut you out of your trade or profession, regardless of what you signed (except where you owned the business that "employed" you and are now selling it, or are dissolving a partnership and making such an agreement with your fellow partners). Those covenants are legally void. Often quite different regimes apply in other states. > what i do in my spare time is my personal life. [...] > please help me understand this. As one of my personal heroes, the late Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX) used to say, "If you want to play the game properly, you'd better know every rule." (By the way, the shift key's on your left.) -- "Zees American words are too much. Zen our culture you'll wrench; With 'le parking' 'le weekend' & such. Wiz our children we'll be out of touch." Eef you anglicize French, -- L'Academie Francaise in a nutshell