I have always hated those things. These are the “contracts” you sign when you start a new job stating you won’t go to work for a competitor. Well California’s Supreme Court has just now ruled them null and void:

Californians have the right to move from one company to another or start their own business and can’t be prohibited by their employer from working for a competitor in their next job, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

In a unanimous decision, the justices said state law since 1872 has forbidden what are called noncompete clauses that restrict management employees’ options after they leave a company.

In my opinion these things should be made illegal nationally. It’s corporate America’s way of monopolizing individuals, and something that tries to limit individuals from gaining new employment. In essence, it’s as far from being part of capitalism as you can get.