The internet has completely changed contracting for me. The contract is the email thread up to the point at which we have an agreement. If the counter-party suggests that we sign another document than that, he is a liar and a cheater, and I will not do business with him.<p>In those circumstances, non-compete clauses will have been discussed during the mail thread. If we discussed and we agreed to them, they are valid. Otherwise, they are not.<p>I do not understand that anybody would still agree to sign a contract document drafted solely by someone else. If it was not drafted together, it is bound to be abusive, and it is always the party who did not participate in its drafting who will be abused.<p>I have always imposed my will or else walked out of bad deals, regardless of whether the counter-party is an individual or a large company. What difference does it make?