This is why other states allow non-competes. First, don't take documents, prototypes etc. That will always get you in trouble. Second, anything publicly known i

This is why other states allow non-competes. First, don't take documents, prototypes etc. That will always get you in trouble. Second, anything publicly known is fair game. Third, follow nda's strictly. But California does have trade secrets that only exist in your mind. If you leave a company and immediately start a direct competitor you'll always be vulnerable to a trade secret allegation. You just have to judge whether they'll actually come after you. I'd recommend documenting your development practices to show you are doing your own work. But for a small company, just getting sued is going to cost half a million in legal fees. If you are an employee at a competitor, in would never write or say anything about how your old company did it. If you know how to do it well, that's arguably just a skill you have. There is no clear answer.