The value of trade secrets never escapes a well-run company. To that end, Apple Inc. has sued a former product designer claiming that he stole the company’s trade secrets to help his new employer, Arris Composites, and then leaked those secrets to the media to advance his own financial interests. The designer, Simon Lancaster, worked […]
Ecolab Sues Former Employee For Allegedly Stealing Trade Secrets
In another high profile trade secret case, water treatment giant Ecolab, Inc. sued one of its former marketing managers, Preston Alexander, and his new company, One Degree Medical, alleging they stole trade secrets to set up a competing business in violation of both the employees’ employment agreement, and state and federal trade secrets laws. EcoLab’s […]
Grand Jury Indicts Chinese Energy Company and Affiliates on Trade Secret Charges
Another new indictment alleging misappropriation of U.S. oil and gas trade secrets by a Chinese energy company, its U.S. based affiliate, and an executive officer was recently handed down by the U.S. Department of Justice. It is another example in a recent string of trade secret charges involving Chinese companies and Chinese nationals operating in […]
How to Resolve a Trade Secret Lawsuit by Entering a Standstill Agreement
Why litigate a case for months or years, only to arrive at a settlement that would have been possible before the case began? In many cases, neither litigant would choose this approach, but it happens quite often nonetheless. About 60 percent of trade secret cases filed in federal court in the last decade ended in […]
How to Manage Trade Secret Litigation Costs
Trade secret litigation can be expensive. Whether you’re bringing a lawsuit to protect your secrets or defending against alleged misappropriation by your company, here are some useful strategies to manage trade secret litigation costs. Identify the Trade Secrets Early Identifying the trade secrets involved in misappropriation litigation is just the beginning. Well before filing a […]