Are noncompete contracts enforceable?

Professionals who are joining or leaving a company are typically prohibited from disclosing the employer's trade secrets, intellectual property, customer or client lists, product specifications and other information deemed proprietary. Recently, for example, a federal district court judge found a noncompete provision to be void and unenforceable because it was "unrestricted in geographical scope." the provision was to be effective for two years and it would have prevented the former employee from working in his field anywhere in the world.