More details of Dr. Lee’s employment contract have come to light, detailing an arrangement that benefits him no matter how the non-compete case ends.

Even if he can’t work for Google for the first year, Dr. Lee will still collect his salary, enjoy company benefits, and even see his stock options vest, according to the Good Morning Silicon Valley blog.

However, that arrangement may be the factor that tilts the non-compete lawsuit filed by Microsoft in its favor:

“If Microsoft successfully enjoins Kai-Fu Lee from working at both Microsoft and Google due to the non-competition and or non-disclosure provisions of the employment agreement,” the article cites from the contract, “Google agrees to place Mr. Lee on a paid leave of absence or consulting engagement for the duration of the injunction, up to twelve months from the date of first employment with Google.”

Maybe Dr. Lee can whip up a tasty bouillabaisse while he’s waiting for those twelve months to tick by. Give the man credit. When stuck for a way to finish his grad paper on speech recognition, he took a year off to write a world-champion Othello program. Then came back and knocked off that pesky paper to earn his doctorate.

That’s a geek hero if there ever was one. All he needs is a Persian cat and a monocle and he could take over the world. Hey Doc, if you’re not going to be busy for the next few months, why not stop by the Murdok offices? We’d like to see if you’re as good at backgammon as you are at Othello.

David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.