Joey Joystick is a computer programmer. While he was in his final year of university studies,
he worked as an intern with a local electronic games producer, Great Games Pty Ltd. Joey
impressed his supervisors with his insightful comments and other input on design work. They
were so impressed with his work on one design, Crypt Force, that they gave him part credit
for it and paid him a general bonus for it. Crypt Force ultimately won an industry award and
proved to be a big seller for the company.
After Joey’s university graduation ceremony, he was ushered aside by a Great Games
executive who showed him a document and said:
“We’re very impressed by your work, Joey. We’d like you to join us permanently—
we’re sure you’ll be happy with the deal we can offer you.”
The document was a contract of employment which contained the following clauses:
1. The duration of the contract is three (3) years.
9. The employee (Joey) agrees that he will not for the duration of the employment
contract or for a period of one year after the conclusion of the employment
undertake design activities in Australia for the purposes of the production of
electronic games or any other form of entertainment.