Fast growing business networking site LinkedIn, in common with other social networking sites, makes it very easy for a user to email everyone in their address book and ask them to become a contact.
But what happens when you build a network based on contacts accumulated as a result of your employment - and then go into competition with your former employer, possibly seeking to poach clients who are now part of your effortlessly extensive online network?
Well, you may end up in court, facing a judge who orders you to hand over to your former employer details of your profile, contacts and LinkedIn emails - while LinkedIn's US owners agree to preserve the data concerned pending the outcome of the case - so that your former employer's lawyers can pore over the information and see if they have a case against you for stealing clients.
Which goes to show that web 2.0 technologies have made it easier than ever to build online communities and networks - but have not changed the nature of the employment contract [subscription required].
|
| Permalink | Email this |
