In California at least there are really good laws about this. No matter what your contract says, it's important to remember that you cannot sign away your rights.
The key is to not utilize _any_ employer resources. That means no using the company-provided laptop, servers, office space, bandwidth, and especially time (even lunch).
The other way to protect yourself is by keeping a work journal. Blogs are nice, but it's best if it's handwritten and dated. This is what will save you if it ever ends up in court.
Obviously I'm about as far from a lawyer as it gets, but this is what I know.
The key is to not utilize _any_ employer resources. That means no using the company-provided laptop, servers, office space, bandwidth, and especially time (even lunch).
The other way to protect yourself is by keeping a work journal. Blogs are nice, but it's best if it's handwritten and dated. This is what will save you if it ever ends up in court.
Obviously I'm about as far from a lawyer as it gets, but this is what I know.