A lot of us work oustside of those areas. In my case we got acquired. My choice was to keep steady employement or become unemployed for some unknown time. I took the risk and signed. Then things like this happen:http://www.goodwinprocter.com/News/Press-Releases/2011/Court...
Since that was written by the law firm representing IBM it's probably the most charitable interpretation you're going to get and I'm still disgusted by it.
Everyone involved in that story sounds like a terrible person. Some day very soon, I hope, the notion that an individual can own an idea and control its usage will be regarded as despicable. What an evil thought.