&gt; Something I don&#x27;t understand -- a non compete is between an individual and their (previous) employer. The new company hiring the employee has NO contractual or legal obligations to the former employer<p>Well, this part is wrong. Once they become aware of the contract, they risk the potential of liability for tortious interference. [0]<p>&gt; And if the former employer contacted the new one, making legal threats in order to get a person fired, isn&#x27;t that itself illegal?<p>So long as there was no misrepresentation involved, I don&#x27;t see how it would be illegal. What law do you think would be broken?<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.law.cornell.edu&#x2F;wex&#x2F;intentional_interference_with_contractual_relations" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.law.cornell.edu&#x2F;wex&#x2F;intentional_interference_wit...</a>