The Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) was signed into law on May 11, 2016 after a remarkable display of unity in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. The DTSA creates an option for companies seeking redress for alleged trade secret misappropriation. They can now file suit in a Federal court.
Good trade secret practice always involves making an inventory of trade secrets belonging to the organization, and evaluating the protections in place for maintaining secrecy. Protections, though, are not always a guarantee against misappropriation as they still rely on trust to be effective.
Misunderstanding of what constitutes a trade secret or illegal appropriation of a secret can lead to highly undesirable consequences even if an action is carried out innocently or in ignorance of the law.
Read on to explore:
- A Quick Refresh to Trade Secrets & Misappropriation
- Why Do You Need to Pay Attention?
- What's new vs. the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA)?