As reported by Trade Secrets Watch last month, several states (including Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island) recently passed legislation curtailing the use of non-compete agreements. Now, the federal government...more
In January of this year, the DOJ indicted the Chinese telecom giant Huawei on counts of theft of trade secrets conspiracy, attempted theft of trade secrets, wire fraud, and obstruction of justice. On August 1, Huawei moved to...more
9/4/2019
/ 5G Network ,
Bad Actors ,
China ,
Confidential Information ,
Criminal Conspiracy ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Discrimination ,
Economic Injuries ,
Huawei ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Misappropriation ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Obstruction of Justice ,
T-Mobile ,
Telecommunications ,
Trade Secrets ,
Trade Wars ,
Trump Administration ,
Wire Fraud
Earlier this year, Washington adopted a new law—Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1450—that places significant restrictions on the enforceability of non-competition agreements. The law applies to “every written or oral...more
8/2/2019
/ Confidential Information ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Franchises ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Independent Contractors ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
New Legislation ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unenforceable Contract Terms ,
Venue
After a weeklong June trial, a Texas federal jury awarded Six Dimensions, Inc. (“Six Dimensions”), a digital marketing firm, $287,000 for its breach-of-contract claim against its former employee but rejected its behemoth $50...more
Last week, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee announced the creation of a new subcommittee on intellectual property....more
Employers in many industries use non-compete agreements as a key tool to protect trade secrets. According to U.S. Treasury reports, non-compete agreements impact approximately 30 million – nearly one in five – U.S. workers,...more
A $700 million jury award for trade secrets misappropriation and fraud is the product of a collusive scheme to deceive the jury, claims title insurance and valuations provider Amrock, formerly known as Title Source, in its...more
Just two days after TSW’s inaugural post, we brought you news of Texas becoming the 48th state to enact some form of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA)....more
In July 2018, a federal judge in Wisconsin imposed a $1.5 million penalty—the maximum statutory fine—against Chinese wind turbine manufacturer, Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd., for stealing trade secrets from Massachusetts-based...more
On May 3, 2018, the New York Court of Appeals held that data copied onto a server constitutes a tangible reproduction for purposes of liability under the New York Penal Code, marking the end of Sergey Aleynikov’s nine year...more
Christopher Hughes worked for Age Industries, Ltd. (“AI”) for nearly 20 years. He was the general manager of one of AI’s branch facilities and a limited partner of the company. In this role, Hughes had access to much of AI’s...more
Non-compete agreements have long been used by employers as an effective tool to protect their valuable trade secrets and confidential information. However, employers’ overuse of non-compete agreements and employers’ practice...more
9/16/2016
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Fast-Food Industry ,
Freedom To Work Act ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Low-Wage Workers ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Trade Secrets ,
Unconscionable Contracts ,
Wage and Hour
It is no secret that the European Union’s (“EU”) Directive on Trade Secrets was a long time in the making. The Directive was first proposed in November 2013. After roughly two years of debate and revision, the revised...more
With President Barack Obama's signature on Wednesday, the Defend Trade Secrets Act ("DTSA" or "Act") has now become law. Where trade secrets were once protected only at the state level, the DTSA now federalizes trade secrets...more
5/16/2016
/ Asset Seizure ,
Confidentiality Agreements ,
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) ,
Economic Espionage Act ,
Ex Parte ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Misappropriation ,
New Legislation ,
Private Right of Action ,
Trade Secrets ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies
With its passage by the House of Representatives, the Defend Trade Secrets Act ("DTSA" or "Act") has now cleared both houses of Congress and will be sent to President Obama for his approval. Where trade secrets were once...more
5/6/2016
/ Asset Seizure ,
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) ,
Economic Espionage Act ,
Ex Parte ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Misappropriation ,
Pending Legislation ,
Popular ,
Private Right of Action ,
Trade Secrets ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies