News & Analysis as of

Unfair Competition Trade Secrets

Proskauer - Trade Secrets

Massive $604.9 Million Verdict in Landmark Trade Secret Case

A California state jury awarded Propel Fuels, Inc. $604.9 million in damages after finding Phillips 66 Company liable for trade secret misappropriation. Propel Fuels, Inc. v. Phillips 66 Co., Case No. 22CV007197 (Cal. Oct....more

ArentFox Schiff

Court Upholds Gilks’ Trade Secrets in Fly Boatworks Dispute

ArentFox Schiff on

This case is an important reminder that in trade secrets litigation, the specific business context is critically important and may be outcome determinative. Here, a closely held business was held to a much more lenient...more

Littler

The (Less-Than-Golden) State of Confidentiality Provisions in California

Littler on

It is well known that California takes a dim view towards restrictive covenants in the workplace. Business & Professions Code Section 16600 prohibits employee non-compete agreements, stating that “every contract by which...more

Fisher Phillips

Will Florida’s New Non-Compete Bill Attract Tech Companies to the Sunshine State? A Thought Experiment

Fisher Phillips on

Florida just enacted a game-changer of a law that makes it the friendliest state in the country for enforcing non-competes – and could also revolutionize how tech companies view the Sunshine State as a place to set up...more

Saul Ewing LLP

Sausage Race Heats Up: Hormel Foods Sues Sausage Competitor Johnsonville Claiming Trade Secrets Misappropriation

Saul Ewing LLP on

Just in time for grilling season in the Midwest, Hormel Foods Corporation (“Hormel”) filed a federal lawsuit in the District of Minnesota against its competitor, Johnsonville, LLC (“Johnsonville”), and two former Hormel...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Employee pirates can plunder a business. Arrrgh ye ready?

Piracy is defined as robbery by ship- or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, with a goal of stealing cargo or other valuables. During the Golden Age of Piracy, from the 1680s to the 1720s, infamous...more

Morgan Lewis

The Weakening of Business Secrecy Before French Judges: The Negative Counterpart of the Right to Evidence in a Fair Trial

Morgan Lewis on

The French High Court has just handed down a ruling confirming the weakening of the force of business secrecy in the name of the right to evidence principle, based on the right to a fair trial found in article 6 of the...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Evidence of a Defendant’s Physical or Digital Retention of Trade Secret Information Is Not Required to Prove Trade Secret...

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

McGuireWoods LLP

Trade Secrets: What You Should Know From 2024 to Prepare for 2025

McGuireWoods LLP on

Summary - Trade secrets remain crucial to companies around the world, preserving their most sensitive and valuable information. From energy to healthcare to agriculture, companies in every industry seek to better develop,...more

Fenwick & West LLP

Tilbury Battles Beauty Dupes with Marketing Savvy—But IP Still Matters

Fenwick & West LLP on

Charlotte Tilbury is responding to the growing trend of beauty copycats, or dupes, with a sharp focus on marketing. Last month, cosmetics and beauty brand e.l.f. avoided liability for duping competitor Benefit’s Roller...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

Freiberger Haber LLP

Unfair Competition: The Bad Faith Misappropriation of Confidential Information For a Commercial Advantage

Freiberger Haber LLP on

In Valkyrie AI LLC v. PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, 2024 N.Y. Slip Op. 06141 (1st Dept. Dec. 5, 2024) (here), the Appellate Division, First Department affirmed an order involving claims for unfair competition, tortious...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

Sunstein LLP

The Court of Appeals of Virginia Overturns Record $2 Billion Jury Award in Widely Watched Appian v. Pegasystems Trade Secret...

Sunstein LLP on

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

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

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

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

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

Paul Hastings LLP

Misappropriation of Trade Secrets by Foreign Company and Legal Recovery in Japanese Court – New Amendment to the Unfair...

Paul Hastings LLP on

In recent years, we have seen numerous media reports on cases involving suspected misappropriation of trade secrets by foreign companies who have hired former Japanese engineers. Given that Japanese law and Japanese...more

Felicello Law PC

Protecting Your Business: Practical Tips To Keep Your Trade Secrets Secret

Felicello Law PC on

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

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

FTC Final Rule Banning Non-Competes Faces Uncertainty

The Federal Trade Commission’s final rule banning non-competes was published in the Federal Register Tuesday, potentially becoming effective on September 4, 2024. The new rule would prohibit employers from imposing...more

Conn Maciel Carey LLP

FTC Finalizes Non-Compete Rule – Prohibiting All New Non-Compete Agreements

Conn Maciel Carey LLP on

As many of you may have heard by now, on April 23, 2024, almost exactly one year after it set forth its Proposed Rule regarding Non-Compete Clauses, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a pre-publication version of its...more

Fish & Richardson

What the FTC’s Ban on Noncompete Agreements Means for Trade Secrets

Fish & Richardson on

On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final rule that would ban the use of noncompete agreements in most employment contracts nationwide. Hailed by the Commission as a measure to promote competition,...more

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Does Arkansas Recognize the Doctrine of Inevitable Disclosure?

Does Arkansas recognize the doctrine of inevitable disclosure in the context of trade secret issues? In some circumstances, yes...more

Womble Bond Dickinson

FTC Issues New Rule - But Not the Final Chapter - on Non-Competes: What Employers Need to Know

Womble Bond Dickinson on

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

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,...

Who Can be Held Accountable for Misappropriation of Trade Secrets?

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

116 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 5

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide