Getting a job?

[Gaulkin]

Who here has gotten a job at a competitors business so you could understand it better in starting your own business.

[Aletheides]

lol evil...very evil.

But good idea.

I wonder if there's any legalities behind this, because you could technically steal clients this way.

[Gaulkin]

Yeah im not sure about the legal side either.

[CIsaac]

The legalities involved is not worth it. Sometimes becoming a customer of the competitor (depending on what industry of course) helps to see their process or hiring someone from the competitor (of course there's the money issue) works.

____________________
IBS - Isaac Business Services

[Gaulkin]

Why dont you explain the legalities.

[ron komorowski]

There is some kind of business law to stop this but I forget. Ofcoarse it depends on the harshness. Also, there is a law of against you using any technologies you have witnessed or learned for one year after you quite. True example. Two guys worked for a tire manufacturing plant and say they came up with a better rubber. They quit and could not release their product for one year. If they do, it is the property of the previous employer as the technology was theirs in the first place to modify. Funny stuff.

Also, "trade secrets" are very protectable as long as you make an effort of keeping it a secret. This could be methods of doing business as well as the formula of Coca-Cola kept in a vault that only two people are supposed to know. Guess one is a witness?

You do not need to file anything to declare a trade secret and it can be as protectable as a patent but ofcoarse harder to prove. There are loop holes in all of this stuff as well as extended timelines in particular situations but I think this is mention of some of the basic understandings of how it goes.

Ron
Inventor of Handi-Straps
Handi Straps Lifting System Home

[rogercbryan]

Are you asking who was working for a company and then started their own based on what they learned or are you asking who put thought into the fact that they were going to get a job with a company so they could steal their ideas....

I think every restaurant owner in the US has worked at another restaurant. Most people who go into the retail business have worked at other stores. If you are being realistic this happene every day and I would go as far as to say that if you do not go to work for someone else doing what you want to do then you are not doing your due dilligence in starting your company.

The exceptions would be scientifc and/or engineering fields or any other place where there is propriatary information....

[crackah]

Im no lawyer but how is that illegal?

You worked for them, and they paid you and you did your job. You left their business thinking it can be done better. You hear about this happening alot. Unless you steal things and use them in your business, I dont see how this is illegal. Its something I would do.

[Hooman]

It's not illegal. I know someone who did this. It's only illegal if you're starting up the competing business or operating it while simultaneously working for the competitor. It also gets iffy if you steal their "trade secrets" which are not limited to customer lists, wholesale sources, etc.

Otherwise, there's nothing illegal about it. But I'm not a lawyer, and I don't know exactly what you'd be attempting.