Story: In a previous life I worked as a consultant in Sweden. My employer had a clause like this in the employment agreement. I quit and joined a company that technically was a client. My previous employer tried to make a legal thing out of it saying I owed them money, but backed down with a sternly worded letter from my lawyer.
My lawyer roughly told me that "they can't block me from earning a living without offering me the same amount they're trying to deny me to earn". Sounds like a very fair law. Wonder if it's still like that? Was some time ago.
> The FTC’s final rule becomes effective in four months. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce plans to sue the FTC as soon as Wednesday over the rule. The suit would argue that the FTC lacks the legal authority to issue the rule and would ask a federal court to invalidate it, Chamber officials said this week.
(I reluctantly signed that, at least once, though it doesn't seem to be fairly balanced.)