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Trade Secrets › Employment Contract › Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

A Trade Secret is any information, not generally known or easily ascertainable, by which an enterprise develops an economic advantage over competitors or customers. In order to maintain trade secrets'... more +
A Trade Secret is any information, not generally known or easily ascertainable, by which an enterprise develops an economic advantage over competitors or customers. In order to maintain trade secrets' protected legal status, enterprises must make reasonable efforts to keep the information secret and prevent unnecessary disclosure.  Trade Secrets may include processes, formulas, methods, designs, patterns, et cetera.   less -
WilmerHale

Post-Mortem on the FTC’s Blocked Non-Compete Rule

WilmerHale on

In August 2024, a Texas federal court struck down a broad Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule that would have banned the vast majority of employee non-competition agreements. ...more

Conn Maciel Carey LLP

[Webinar] Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants: Practical Advice to Safeguard Your Company’s Critical Assets - April 10th,...

Conn Maciel Carey LLP on

The protection of trade secrets and confidential information is critical to the success of many organizations. Employers must remain vigilant against the growing risk of sensitive information being compromised, especially...more

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

HR Minute: Wyoming Becomes Latest State to Restrict Non-Competes

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP on

On March 19, 2025, Wyoming enacted a new law significantly restricting the use of non-compete agreements except in limited circumstances. The new law contains several exceptions, including non-competes tied to the sale of a...more

ArentFox Schiff

Trade Secrets and Noncompete Agreements: Analysis of Significant Cases and Emerging Trends

ArentFox Schiff on

Trade secrets, noncompetes, and other restrictive covenants continued to make headlines in 2024. Most notably, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a final rule imposing a near total ban on employee noncompetes that...more

Lewitt Hackman

NASAA Guidance for Franchise Non-Competes

Lewitt Hackman on

Last May, the Federal Trade Commission looked to ban non-compete agreements in most employment contracts aside from franchise agreements. Although scheduled to become effective in September, a federal court vacated the ruling...more

Littler

2024’s Top Stories in Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Law

Littler on

2024 was quite a year in unfair competition and trade secrets law, with the Federal Trade Commission’s final rule on non-competes garnering widespread mainstream media attention. While the FTC final rule has been set aside...more

Benesch

Trade Secrets/Non-Compete 2024 Year in Review

Benesch on

Happy New Year and welcome to our 2024 Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenant Year in Review. 2024 was less stressful and dramatic than most people feared at the start of the year, but there still were some significant rulings...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

2024 Trade Secrets Webinar Series Recap: Key Takeaways and Access to Recordings

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

In 2024, Seyfarth’s Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud & Non-Compete practice group presented a series of dynamic and insightful CLE webinars, addressing pivotal challenges confronting businesses head-on. ...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

[Webinar] Second Annual Employment Services Seminar for Washington Metro Clients - November 19th, 10:00 am - 1:15 pm ET

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Join us for DWT’s Second Annual Employment Services seminar for Washington, D.C.-area clients and contacts on Tuesday, November 19. The agenda is now available!...more

Fisher Phillips

October’s Spookiest Restrictive Covenant Developments: An Employer’s 5-Ingredient Witches’ Brew to Ward Off Harm

Fisher Phillips on

“Magic words,” “TRAPs,” and the federal non-compete ban rising from the dead? October had several spooky developments in restrictive covenant law, but no need to be frightened! We’ve got you covered with updates, insights,...more

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Trade Secret Protection as a “Trade-Off” for Non-Competes

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP on

Non-compete agreements can be an effective method for protecting confidential and proprietary business information. However, over the past several years, it seems that non-compete agreements have been falling out of favor....more

Baker Donelson

Top Developments in Trade Secret Law

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In the ever-evolving landscape of intellectual property law, trade secrets have emerged as a crucial area of focus, particularly in light of recent uncertainties as to the enforceability of non-competes. Since August 2023,...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

The FTC noncompete ban is dead. Here are five steps employers should take now.

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP on

You no doubt have heard that on August 20, a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas set aside the Rule issued by the Federal Trade Commission that sought to ban virtually all noncompetition agreements as unfair...more

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

Texas Federal Court Strikes Down FTC Ban on Non - Competes in Ryan v. FTC

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

The long awaited collision between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the varied political and legal opinions on the legality of Employment Non-Compete Agreements (Non-Competes) is now moving up the ladder of...more

UB Greensfelder LLP

Your Trade Secret IP Stands Between You and Your Competition. The Impending September 4, 2024 FTC Rule Would Ban Most...

UB Greensfelder LLP on

*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

Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

Seismic Shift in Employment and Intellectual Property Rights: FTC’s Nationwide Ban on Noncompete Agreements

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. on

30 million is a BIG number! That is the estimated number of employment contracts that could be impacted by the Federal Trade Commission’s new rule banning non-competes, if it goes into effect on September 4, 2024, as...more

UB Greensfelder LLP

Your Trade Secret IP Stands Between You and Your Competition. The September 4, 2024 FTC Rule Bans Most Non-Competes. Has the FTC...

UB Greensfelder LLP on

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

Baker Donelson

Guardians of the Goldmine: Building an Effective Confidentiality Program

Baker Donelson on

On August 14, Judge Corrigan for the Middle District of Florida, in Properties of the Villages vs. FTC, found that the FTC did not have the authority to enter its planned Noncompete Rule, and entered an order granting an...more

Baker Donelson

Trust, but Verify: The Power of Audits to Protect Your Competitive Edge as Non-Compete Ban Looms

Baker Donelson on

Corporate leaders concerned about protecting the recipe for their company's success have been following the fitful path of the FTC's rule banning non-competes. Lawsuits seeking to enjoin the rule were filed in multiple...more

Fisher Phillips

Your Non-Compete and Trade Secrets To-Do List for August 2024

Fisher Phillips on

Courts and lawmakers around the country are constantly refining the laws on non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure agreements, which means employers need to stay up to speed in order to prevent unfair...more

Baker Donelson

Employers Should Consider Alternative Protections to Address Lack of Clarity Around Non-Compete Rule

Baker Donelson on

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) impending Non-Compete Rule invalidating almost all non-compete agreements nationwide received new life after a recent federal decision in Pennsylvania district court. Employers and...more

Baker Donelson

All Eyes on Pennsylvania Federal Court After Texas Court Issues Limited Injunction Against FTC Non-Compete Ban

Baker Donelson on

A first-in-nation ruling in Texas federal court casts serious doubt on the enforceability of the broad-reaching new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Noncompete Rule. For any company seeking to legitimately protect its...more

Epstein Becker & Green

What Should Employers Be Doing Now to Best Protect Their Business Interests?

Epstein Becker & Green on

Part 3 of a Series on the Three Most Frequently Asked Questions Following the FTC’s Final Noncompete Rule - This is the final installment of our three-part series discussing employers’ most frequently asked questions in...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Should Employers Continue to Enter into Noncompetes with New Hires or Other Employees?

Epstein Becker & Green on

Part 2 of a Series on the Three Most Frequently Asked Questions Following the FTC’s Final Noncompete Rule - This is the second installment of our three-part blog series that is intended to respond to employers’ three most...more

Mandelbaum Barrett PC

What is the Impact of the FTC Ban on Non-Competes on Other Types of Contractual Restrictions?

Mandelbaum Barrett PC on

Introduction - On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) voted to finalize a rule that prohibits employers from enforcing non-compete agreements against workers (“The Rule”)....more

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