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Covenants Not to Compete. Jody Blanke, Professor Computer Information Systems and Law Mercer University, Atlanta. Covenants Not to Compete. Non-employment related related to sale of business e.g., Joe the Baker. Employment-related. Brenda Wood.
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Covenants Not to Compete Jody Blanke, Professor Computer Information Systems and Law Mercer University, Atlanta
Covenants Not to Compete • Non-employment related • related to sale of business • e.g., Joe the Baker • Employment-related
Brenda Wood • Brenda Wood agreed not to work as an on-air news anchor in the Atlanta/Athens television market for 6 months.
Covenants Not to Compete • Scope • agreement must specify what activity is to be limited • Geography • be careful of terms like Atlanta • Duration • e.g., 6 months, 1 year, 2 years
Laws Vary From State to State • California will not enforce such an agreement as an illegal restraint of trade • Georgia used to be very strict about enforcement of these covenants • would not “blue pencil” such an agreement
Election Day 2010 • Georgia Constitutional Amendment • “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to make Georgia more economically competitive by authorizing legislation to uphold reasonable competitive agreements?” • 68% said “Yes”
O.C.G.A. § 13-8-50 et seq. • Courts may now “blue pencil” the agreement • Two years is presumed reasonable • Need not specify a geographic restriction • Law targets “key employees” • executive employees • employees in possession of important confidential information, or • employees with specialized skills, knowledge, or customer contacts or information