Q: Would my side business be a conflict of interest with my employer?
My employer makes money through business partnerships and monetizing articles. I want to start a side business using the same monetization methods, but my business would serve a different industry (Ex. - Employer serves the real estate sector- My business would serve the the fashion & beauty sectors). Would it be a conflict of interest to use the same monetization methods yet serve different sectors?
A:
Your question might not easily lend itself to a simple "yes" or "no" answer. It's possible two different attorneys could argue two different sides of the coin here, where one points out that your areas of concentration are different. Another could say that the basic pursuit of the employer's fundamental business model, even in another area, creates a conflict. One way to look at it is whether you think the employer might sue you, fire you, or do nothing and give you their blessing. It's difficult to offer a clear answer here. A different attorney might be able to offer you a different viewpoint. Good luck
Tim Akpinar
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