Amazon sues employee for taking Google cloud job, in new test of non-competes

Re:Amazon sues employee for taking Google cloud job, in new ... by danielweber on Wednesday July 02, 2014 @08:25AM (#7976475)

Maybe you guys are having an is-versus-ought discussion, but under US law giving someone new employment definitely counts as consideration as far as contracts are concerned.

If someone is an existing employee and you want them to sign a new employee agreement, you need some additional consideration besides "we let you keep your job," such as an increase in pay.

IANAL but 'icebraining is accurately describing US law. We nerds in the US need to fully internalize what the law is before we can fight it.

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Re:Amazon sues employee for taking Google cloud job, in new ... by walshemj on Wednesday July 02, 2014 @05:37PM (#7979915)

Ah so which of the 52 states plus federal employment law does this refer to? - and in that case why is it rather hard to actually enforce a non compete without payment.

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Re:Amazon sues employee for taking Google cloud job, in new ... by danielweber on Thursday July 03, 2014 @10:13AM (#7983149)

I may be referring to Massachusetts law. IANAL.

Contracts require consideration[1]. If we agree you will give me $400 tomorrow, that is not a contact. If we agree that I will give you $200 today and you will give me $400 tomorrow, that is a contract.[2]

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consideration

[2] There are other components that make contracts legal; technically I'm only describing the consideration aspect.

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Re:Amazon sues employee for taking Google cloud job, in new ... by icebraining on Wednesday July 02, 2014 @02:09PM (#7978584)

I'm actually describing what I think makes sense. Any resemblance to actual legislation is purely coincidental :)

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