Most non-compete contracts are about as valid as the paper they're written on. I've signed a lot in my time and have only been brought into court once. The judge laughed at the company and asked them if they were going to pay my salary for the next 12 months I would be out of work if they wanted to enforce the non-compete contract. Needless to say, The company dropped their case and I still got a hefty severance check.

Companies can't keep you from being gainfully employed, even if it's with a competitor in your same industry. This means most employment/non-compete contracts are essentially non-binding agreements. I've never heard of someone getting sued and losing trying to break an employment contract, it just doesn't happen.