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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 481
October 12, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives J. ANDERSON, C. ANDERSON, BARE,
CABRERA, CONLEY, CONSIDINE, EMERSON, GOYKE, HAYWOOD, JOERS, OHNSTAD,
ORTIZ-VELEZ, PALMERI, RATCLIFF, SHANKLAND, SHELTON, SNODGRASS, STUBBS
and SUBECK, cosponsored by Senators LARSON, AGARD, CARPENTER, SMITH,
SPREITZER, TAYLOR and WIRCH. Referred to Committee on Labor and
Integrated Employment.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to renumber and amend 103.465; to amend 103.465 (title); and to
create 103.465 (1m) and 103.465 (3) and (4) of the statutes; relating to:
covenants not to compete in employment contracts.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a restrictive covenant in an employment contract that
prohibits an assistant, servant, or agent from competing with his or her employer or
principal during the term of the employment or agency, or after the termination of
the employment or agency, within a specified territory and during a specified time
is lawful and enforceable if the restrictions imposed are reasonably necessary for the
protection of the employer or principal. Such a covenant that imposes an
unreasonable restraint is illegal, void, and unenforceable even as to any part of the
covenant or performance that would be a reasonable restraint.
This bill makes most such covenants illegal, void, and unenforceable after the
termination of employment or agency. A nondisclosure agreement related to
personal information of the the employer or principal or the customers of the
employer or principal or a restrictive covenant prohibiting the unauthorized use by
a former employee or agent of a customer list or intellectual property owned or
licensed by the employer or principal is not illegal, void, or unenforceable under the
bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
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SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 481
SECTION 1. 103.465 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
103.465 (title) Restrictive covenants Covenants not to compete in
employment contracts.
SECTION 2. 103.465 of the statutes is renumbered 103.465 (2) and amended to
read:
103.465 (2) COVENANTS IN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS NOT TO COMPETE WHILE
EMPLOYED. A covenant by an assistant, servant, employee, or agent not to compete
with his or her employer or principal during the term of the employment or agency,
or after the termination of that employment or agency, within a specified territory
and during a specified time is lawful and enforceable only if the restrictions imposed
are reasonably necessary for the protection of the employer or principal. Any
covenant, described in this section, imposing subsection, that imposes an
unreasonable restraint on trade is illegal, void, and unenforceable even as to any part
of the covenant or performance that would be a reasonable restraint on trade.
SECTION 3. 103.465 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
103.465 (1m) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) “Copyright” means a work of authorship, including writings, music, and
works of art, that has been tangibly expressed and that is protected by the federal
Copyright Act, 17 USC 101 to 1332, or common law.
(b) “Customer list” means any information about a customer that is not
available to a competitor of an employer or principal, including personal information
and past purchases of goods or services from the employer or principal.
(c) “Intellectual property” means copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade
secrets, and any other type of commonly recognized intellectual property.
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SECTION 3
ASSEMBLY BILL 481
(d) “Nondisclosure agreement” means a written agreement or provision that
prohibits the disclosure of personal information about an employer or principal or a
customer of an employer or principal.
(e) “Patent” means a right to an invention protected under 35 USC 251 to 329.
(f) “Trade secret” has the meaning given in s. 134.90 (1) (c).
SECTION 4. 103.465 (3) and (4) of the statutes are created to read:
103.465 (3) COVENANTS IN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS NOT TO COMPETE AFTER
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR AGENCY. A covenant by an assistant, servant,
employee, or agent not to compete with his or her employer or principal after the
termination of the employment or agency imposes an unreasonable restraint on
trade and is illegal, void, and unenforceable even as to any part of the covenant that
would be a reasonable restraint on trade. This subsection does not apply to a
nondisclosure agreement or to a covenant not to compete that is limited to
prohibiting or restricting the unauthorized use of a customer list or intellectual
property owned or licensed by the employer or principal.
(4) NOTICE POSTED. Each employer and principal shall post, in one or more
conspicuous places where notices to assistants, servants, employees, and agents are
customarily posted, and in a conspicuous place on the employer's or principal's
website, if the employer or principal maintains a website, a notice in a form approved
by the department that explains that covenants not to compete after termination of
employment or agency, subject to the exceptions in sub. (3), are an unreasonable
restraint on trade and are illegal, void, and unenforceable.
SECTION 5.0Initial applicability.
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SECTION 5 ASSEMBLY BILL 481
(1) COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE IN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS. This act first applies
to a covenant not to compete that is entered into, extended, modified, or renewed on
the effective date of this subsection.
(END)
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