but since the subject is important to me, I've looked into the relevant law. Courts have again and again ruled that professionals have a right to earn a living, and therefore non-compete clauses are null and void. Sure, your former employer can sue you--anyone can sue anyone for any reason. But he'll lose.

Not if he can prove you brought meterials out and used them at a competitor. I know of a blatant case where an employee moved from company a to company b and 3 weeks later company b produced the same gizmo as company a calling it "similar" but it was proven identical. Also in the EDA industry there has been cases of source code "transfer" and those have been winnable as reported in EE Times.

But, again, you are free to use your head in any way you choose, just do not bring any paper or files..

Erik