Freelance non-compete?

[Craig Seeman]

[David Roth Weiss] “a professional bringing home the bacon at eight bucks an hour. “

At $8/hr one brings home Bac~Os®

[Gary Chvatal]

Welcome to the Tarheel state!

[Nick Griffin]

Good for you, Adam. Being restricted from working for ANYONE else is absurd and even if signed would be unlikely to stand up in court.

Occasionally when we hire freelancers we use a purchase order which specifies that they are not to contact the client directly either during the engagement or for a two year period thereafter. That’s simply to protect us from a writer, art director, producer, etc. saying to our client “Psst. Hey you can get this cheaper by using me and bypassing these guys.”

Frankly, there are only a few people with whom this has ever been a legitimate fear. For the most part we work with people we know and trust. I should also point out that the only time this kind of non-compete is even needed is for a writer, art director or producer whose job it is to really dig in and learn the client’s business. Cameramen, grips, etc. rarely would have to learn enough about the client’s business for this ever to be an issue.

[Moody Glasgow]

I once had a job offer, and they wanted me to sign a no-compete agreement… FOR THE WHOLE WEST COAST!!!!
Some people get a little bit of info, and they become dangerous. Especially to themselves…

moody glasgow
smoke artist / editor

[Ken Summerall]

[moody glasgow] “FOR THE WHOLE WEST COAST!!!! “

Here’s a quote from the actual non-com:

“This Addendum shall cover the Independent Contractor’s activities in every part of the Territory in which the Independent Contractor may conduct business during the term of the Agreement as set forth above. “Territory” shall mean the states of North Carolina, New York, Vermont, Minnesota, Illinois, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, California, Massachusetts and Michigan in the United State of America.”

And another thing that Adam hasn’t told you is that they wanted him to make his personal equipment available for the $8/hr.

INSANE!

K

[Mark Suszko]

Boy I’m glad my keyboard has a protective skin on it!

Nick, I like your version of the agreement as you briefly described it, but I wonder if 2 years is a little long. I guess it has to depend on the specific market. I wouldn’t blink at signing it for 2 weeks or 2 months, but more than a year, for one instance, seems excessive? How did you arrive at your figure, may I ask?

[Terence Curren]

$8 an hour?!?!??!?!?

Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca

[Ron Lindeboom]

[Terence Curren] “$8 an hour?!?!??!?!?”

What, is that a little too high, Terry???

:o)

Ron Lindeboom

[Terence Curren]

$8 just makes minimum wage in California. No one can even live on that. Forget providing gear.

I’m just in shock that in the US anyone could be paying $8 an hour for a professional job! Of any kind!

Maybe we will be able to compete with China soon after all. 🙁

Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca

[Grinner Hester]

Non compete contracts are admissions that the grass is greener elsewhere. There is no reason to sign one of these ever, under any circumstancers, at freakin all. If a company wants to keep you from competing, it’s their job to keep you happy.
It’s bold enough for a company to ask a staffer to sign one of these but to ask a freelancer to disable himslef from freelancing is crazy. If working for a top secret entity, again they can buy some loyalty. Forcing it with a signature is bogus.