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by CommanderData 3747 days ago
It would make a difference. Circumventing this law will be possible even if it means setting up company in a different country.

>The govt wouldn't give a squat about what contractual agreements

Setting yourself up in that manner would mean more challenges and making it difficult for the UK govt to win in court.
2 comments
dogma1138 3747 days ago
As long as any entity related to the company has a UK address they'll get pinched the only way to "circumvent" the law is not to have any business in the UK.

>Setting yourself up in that manner would mean if it needed to be taken to court, it would be difficult for the UK govt to win.

I don't think you understand how the legal system in the UK works, or anywhere else for that matter. You can't have contractual agreements that go against the law as it would constitute an illegal contract.

If you have a clause in the contract that requires you to either break the law outright or not to comply with it it will not be enforceable and will be considered void.

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tankenmate 3747 days ago
Not necessarily, what would happen in this case is that once you are compelled your contract to work on the code is terminated. Nothing illegal about such a contract.
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dogma1138 3747 days ago
You can't proclaim that you were compelled and if you employer finds out it's an illegal dismissal.
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tankenmate 3746 days ago
You effectively are your employer (via a contract for services rather than employment per se). So by them giving you the notice they are also informing your employer.

You then get to fire yourself; it is definitely a burn it to the ground strategy, but this type of strategy has happened before and no doubt will happen again even if infrequently.

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mryan 3747 days ago
> Setting yourself up in that manner would mean more challenges and making it difficult for the UK govt to win in court.

But would it, really? This fails the same logical test as the warrant canary - it sounds comforting, but is absolutely useless in the real world.

You still have the same choices - you can follow the request, or ignore it. You can tell the world, or keep it secret.

In every scenario I can think of, this idea of "affirming you have not been compelled" provides absolutely no protection.

Are you able to provide an example that demonstrates how this off-shore/contractor setup would protect you from the UK equivalent of a NSL with a non-disclosure clause?

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