The company may have invested time and money in the employee's training. Such knowledge could be used to the detriment of their competitive advantage. Courts have tried to balance these two interests. For example, a restriction on not being able to work for any other company with an Internet presence would be unenforceable. The Internet poses new challenges on the drafting and enforceability of such agreements in various ways.
Internet time is compressed.
A time period for the restriction to be applicable that may be acceptable for a traditional company or position may be far too long for an Internet-based company or position. Things change so rapidly in the Internet world that inside knowledge creating the need for protection will cease to be a competitive threat more quickly. Geography becomes irrelevant. Traditionally, most companies' competition was local. Thus, the restrictive covenant needed to be effective within a small geographic area.