What is NOT a requirement for enforcing a covenant not to compete?

The correct answer indicates that the requirement for the restriction in a covenant not to compete does not need to be limited only to the purchase of a business. In fact, covenants not to compete can arise in various contexts, including employment contracts, business sales, or even partnerships, without being restricted solely to the sale of a business.

For instance, when employees leave a company, they may be subject to a non-compete clause that restricts them from working for competing firms in a specified geographical area or for a certain duration. This illustrates that these agreements are common and enforceable in employment scenarios, which emphasizes that the context is broader than just business purchases.

In contrast, the other requirements mentioned reflect standard legal expectations for enforcing covenants not to compete. These include having a reasonable duration to ensure that the restriction is not overly burdensome, a geographical area that is appropriate and not excessively wide, and having consideration, which refers to something of value being exchanged to support the agreement. All these factors contribute to the enforceability and legality of the covenant in different contexts.