Would a non-complete clause apply to oversea job searches?
<p>A few years ago I signed a NDA with a non-compete clause when joining my current company in the United States. The NDA is stated to be enforceable where permitted by law. </p>

<p>Since then I’ve moved to Japan and am currently working for the  same company. But my current contract is with its Japanese entity. I didn’t sign a second NDA when on-boarding here.</p>

<p>My question is would my previous NDA apply if I were to look for another job here in Japan or in a third country, say, China/Hong Kong? </p>

<p><strong>It depends</strong></p>

<p>Restraint of trade clauses are limited to what is reasonable to protect the interests of the employer. This reasonableness applies to job role and geographic location.</p>

<p>Depending on your job, it may or may not be reasonable to limit you worldwide. For example, if you are the CEO of a multinational like Coca-Cola it is probably reasonable to prevent you working in the soft drink industry worldwide for a reasonable time. It would not be reasonable if you were a factory line worker to restrict you at all, probably.</p>

united-states non-disclosure non-compete