Meritas Capability Webinar - California’s Prohibition Against Non-Compete Agreements (B&P Code § 16600), the Protection of Trade Secrets and the Practical Relationship Between the Two
Zynga May Shed Light on Its Own Practices in Going After Former Employee for Trade Secrets Theft
On April 22, 2025, the Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of a sales manager and his new employer on claims under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”), the Oklahoma Uniform Trade Secrets Act (“OUTSA”), and...more
For companies, maintaining a competitive advantage over the market is necessary for long-term growth. In many cases, this competitive advantage takes the form of a federal- or state-protected trade secret, such as a...more
A recent federal district court ruling serves as an important reminder that a former employee may be held liable for trade secret misappropriation even if the alleged trade secrets are not physically or electronically taken...more
Welcome to WilmerHale’s bulletin on recent trade secret case law and relevant news items. We’ve affectionately nicknamed it “Readily Ascertainable” because, unlike a trade secret, it should be easy to figure out....more
The decision creates an additional tool for protecting corporate information and trade secrets. The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s conviction of Taylor Amil Wallace for computer fraud, with three judges...more
Trade secrets are the lifeblood of any business. Across industries and states, companies safeguard a wealth of critical information that provides a competitive edge. Perhaps the most famous example is Coca-Cola’s secret...more
A temporary restraining order (“TRO”) followed by a preliminary injunction is often essential for a company to maintain the trade secrets status of its information that is being misappropriated. Typically, once the...more
To protect its data and better compete in the market, an organization must treat its data as an intellectual property. That means understanding the different intellectual property regimes and their accompanying requirements....more
Understanding the definition of a trade secret under federal law is crucial for businesses looking to protect their valuable information. Trade secrets are also defined by state law. While there is no single, universal...more
In California, although the prevailing rule is that each party in litigation must cover their own fees and costs, a litigant can be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and costs if expressly permitted in a contract....more
On July 30, 2024, the Court of Appeals of Virginia overturned a two billion dollar (yes, billion with a ‘b’) jury verdict in the Appian v. Pegasystems trade secret lawsuit. Although the Court of Appeals upheld the verdict of...more
*As of August 20, 2024, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas has blocked the FTC's impending ban on non-compete agreements. Please see the update at the end of this alert. Trade secrets...more
Trade secrets exist, by definition, only if the owner takes reasonable measures to maintain their secrecy. This is true under the Federal, State and Uniform Trade Secret Acts. Companies have traditionally used...more
The Court of Appeals of Virginia vacated a $2 billion award in a trade secret misappropriation case based on a series of evidential errors and improper jury instructions. Pegasystems Inc. v. Appian Corporation, Case No....more
The Virginia Court of Appeals reversed a $2 billion jury award for trade secret misappropriation under the Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Act (VUTSA). The appellate court found error in the jury instruction for unjust...more
A Fairfax County, Virginia, jury in May 2022 found that Pegasystems Inc. (Pegasystems) misappropriated trade secrets from its competitor, Appian Corp. (Appian), and awarded Appian more than $2 billion in damages – the largest...more
On January 26, 2023, Cigna Corp. (“Cigna”) sued CVS Health Corp. (“CVS”) and its newly hired chief product officer Amy Bricker (“Bricker”), in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, for allegedly...more
Arkansas has adopted the Model Uniform Trade Secrets Act with some modifications. We refer to this as the Arkansas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (“AUTSA”) and it can be found at Ark. Code Ann. § 4-75-601, et seq....more
Are certain claims prevented when bringing a trade secret claim? Yes. Generally speaking the Arkansas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (AUTSA) displaces conflicting tort, restitutionary, and other law concerning the misappropriation...more
Everyone is talking about the new rule approved by the Federal Trade Commission on April 23 (published on May 7 and set to take effect – pending legal challenges – on September 4, 2024 ). It is referred to as the...more
On April 22, the Federal Trade Commission issued its final “Non-Compete Clause Rule” which bans most non-competes in the United States. It will become effective 120 days after it is published in the Federal Register....more
How can you defend yourself if you are accused of misappropriation of trade secrets? This is a complex area of the law and there is no one-size-fits-all defense. Developing a strategy to successfully defend against a claim...more
What is the statute of limitations for a trade secrets claim? Three years. The Arkansas Uniform Trade Secrets Act explicitly provides that there is a three-year statute of limitations. The three-year time period begins to run...more
Who can be held accountable for misappropriation of Trade Secrets? The Arkansas Uniform Trade Secrets Act answers this question, explaining that the following may be liable for trade secret misappropriation: Individuals....more
What must you show to prove that someone misappropriated trade secrets? The Arkansas Uniform Trade Secrets Act provides that misappropriation of trade secrets can be shown in one or more of three ways: acquisition or physical...more