>Well, 1st, the HR guy said for you to review them,
>so tell him you are going to review them. If it
>took them 3 weeks, I don't think they should mind
>waiting a week for your reply.

I would agree with this. They have sprung it on you, and have asked you to
review it. If it takes you a month to "review" it, I don't think they could
complain. It may even take you a year to "review" it, though that would be
stretching things a bit far.

>If you took the time to type these things that disturb
>you, then you have to decide if you want to accept them
>or live with them. The agreement they handed you now is
>not cast in stone, so look at it exactly the same way
>you would have if you hadn't accepted the work yet,
>and remember, you are allowed to strike-out sections
>and paragraphs as if you are negotiating a compromise
>which both you and the company can be happy with (a middle
>ground - and try to look at it from both your perspective
>and from the perspective of the company).

It would be really worth paying an employment law specialist lawyer for an
hours time to review it and come back with a counter agreement, if you
really have problems with what it says. I would be tempted to ask the lawyer
what their rate is, and be prepared to stump up say $100 for a rapid review.
You may know someone that could help you with this for a suitable
consideration. I suspect they may point out the bits that Herbert already
has. On the other hand, if it is not worth the paper it is written on, then
it may be worth signing so they think they are protected, even if they are
not.

The bit I do not like is the piece which effectively means that anything you
do in your hobbies becomes theirs, even if it isn't in their current line of
work, but they might like to take on in the future because they see a money
making opportunity. You should perhaps point out that this stifles your
creativity, because you are now effectively working 24/7 for them.

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