In early May, the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to approve a new rule banning most covenants not to compete (widely known as noncompetes) nationwide, with some exceptions. Noncompetes are agreements between employees and employers in which the employee promises not to compete with the employer for a specific period of time or within a particular geographic area should the employment relationship terminate. Many noncompetes bar the employee from working for a competitor for a specified time period after ending employment. The enforceability of the FTC's new rule was challenged in three federal court, and each court ruled differently.