News Google vs Microsoft - Seconds away, Round 1

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/09/07/google_vs_microsoft_1st_round/

 

I think he should be able to work but if he did sign that agreement then it is his fault for not reading the fine print before signing something.

 

it's not in blooming competition!

and even if it is are they saying Dr. Lee has to work in netto's untill his contract has ended :O

 

If he signed the NCA, he's bound to it, simple as that. Even as much as I hate MS. However as MSN search is only in existance because it's default for IE search bar searches, I'd hardly consider MS and Google real competitors, which is generally what an NCA refers to. Like working at Abit and then leaving for DFI. NOT like working at DFI and going to AMD, which is, imo, what this is more a case of.

However this is more "MS vs former MS employee", not "MS vs Google".

 

I have seen this sort of thing before in the financial sector in the UK, I know in that particular instance the case was found in favour of the ex employee.

So long as Google did not actively poach Lee, then I think I don't think the current policy of companies asking you to not work for a competitor is really fair. Its well know in IT and financials for companies to employee people directly from competitors probably knowing that their competitors have the same anti-competitor clause in their contracts too.