FTC Looks to Ban Noncompetes

This could be huge for people working in TV news and for TV agents.

On Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission released a plan to ban non-compete clauses in the United States. Noncompete clauses are agreements that prohibit employees from working for a competitor or starting a competing business for a certain period of time after they leave their current job. According to the FTC, nearly one in five American workers are affected by noncompete clauses, which they argue are an exploitative practice that violate the 1909 law against unfair methods of competition.

While non-compete clauses were originally used to protect trade secrets and other valuable company information, they have increasingly been imposed on lower-wage workers who do not have access to such information. The FTC argues that these clauses unfairly restrict workers' mobility and opportunities, and that they should be banned in order to promote fair competition and protect workers' rights.

However, the proposal to ban non-compete clauses is likely to face opposition from companies who argue that the clauses serve a legitimate purpose in protecting their business interests. It remains to be seen how the ban will be implemented, and what the consequences will be for companies and workers alike.

FTVLive has spoken out for years, saying that non-competes need to be banned.