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Economic Espionage Act

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

Is Theft of Trade Secrets a Crime Under Federal Law?

Is Theft of Trade Secrets a Crime Under Federal Law? Yes. In this installment, we’ll focus on the Economic Espionage Act (EEA) and the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), as well as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). Theft...more

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

What is the Definition of a Trade Secret Under Federal Law?

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

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

What Federal Laws Protect Trade Secrets?

In the world of business, safeguarding your company’s valuable information is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge. One of the most important assets a company can have is its trade secrets. But what exactly are trade...more

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

Reading Tea Leaves: Oral Arguments in Motorola v. Hytera and the Extraterritorial Reach of the DTSA

Last week, the Seventh Circuit heard arguments in Motorola Solutions, Inc. v. Hytera Communications Corp. concerning when, if at all, civil claims under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”) may extend to extraterritorial...more

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

Motorola v. Hytera: Seventh Circuit Set to Hear Arguments on the Extraterritorial Reach of DTSA

On December 5, the Seventh Circuit in Motorola Solutions, Inc. v. Hytera Communications Corp. will hear high-stakes arguments concerning the application of the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”) to trade secrets taken...more

Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics...

The FBI on Economic Espionage

Economic espionage sounds more like the stuff of a spy thriller than a day-to-day concern for business. Not so, as it turns out. To learn more we sat down with the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division Unit Chief Matthew Charles...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Whistleblowers and Trade Secrets: Does the DTSA Protect Confidential Data?

Employers often go to great lengths to protect company documents and communications concerning and discussing confidential trade secret information. But what happens when employees leave, bring a whistleblower claim, and the...more

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

Federal Appellate Court Approves Pretext Border Search Based on Trade Secret Theft Suspicion

For almost nine years, Haitao Xiang, a Chinese national and U.S. resident, had worked for Monsanto, Co in St. Louis as a research application engineer specializing in hyperspectral imaging technology. As with most jobs of...more

Freeman Law

The Sentencing Guidelines and Intellectual Property Crimes

Freeman Law on

Most intellectual property offenses are calculated and sentenced under U.S.S.G. Sections 2B5.3 and 2B1.1. Section 2B5.3 covers most intellectual property offenses, including copyright, trademark, counterfeit, bootleg,...more

Freeman Law

The Economic Espionage Act: Key Provisions

Freeman Law on

The Economic Espionage Act (EEA), codified in 18 U.S.C. § 1831-1839, makes the theft of or trafficking in trade secrets for foreign governments, instrumentalities, or agents a criminal act. Prior to passing the EEA, the Trade...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Absent Proof of Government Ownership on an EEA Sovereign Immunity Defense is All Black and White

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of a motion to dismiss an indictment, charging four Chinese companies with violations of the criminal provisions of the Economic Espionage Act...more

Dechert LLP

Tensions Rise Between China and the United States: Intellectual Property Prosecutions Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Dechert LLP on

Amid escalating tensions between the United States and China over the last few years, the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has formally prioritized criminal prosecutions of Chinese nationals and companies, and...more

Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics...

Chinese tax software contains malware

Report on Supply Chain Compliance 3, no. 18 (September 17, 2020) - In June of 2020, Trustwave SpiderLabs, a cybersecurity firm, announced it had found malware on tax software downloaded by a client. The malware was embedded...more

Troutman Pepper

Protecting Trade Secrets: Lessons Learned From the Levandowski Case

Troutman Pepper on

Companies often consider trade secrets to be their crown jewels. But in the digital age, where copying and sending files is as easy as one click, protecting trade secrets has become even more challenging. Losing control over...more

Oberheiden P.C.

Theft of U.S. Companies’ IP Assets and Other National Security Issues Involving Foreign Governments and Foreign-Controlled...

Oberheiden P.C. on

Federal authorities have recently described the threat of economic espionage from foreign entities as one of the greatest threats to the economic vitality of the United States, and this has led to an increase in...more

Mintz - Intellectual Property Viewpoints

Federal Judge Confirms that Federal Trade Secret Statute Applies to Misappropriation that Occurs Overseas

Earlier this month, a Northern District of Illinois jury returned a verdict in favor of Motorola for over $700 million after a trial in which Motorola alleged that Hytera hired three engineers away from Motorola’s Malaysian...more

K&L Gates LLP

Misappropriators Beware: Motorola Court Embraces Extraterritorial Application of the Defend Trade Secrets Act

K&L Gates LLP on

On March 5, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered a final judgment on a jury verdict of approximately $764.6 million in a high profile trade secret misappropriation case — Motorola...more

Orrick - Trade Secrets Group

In Pursuit of Chinese Trade Secret Theft: Fresh Allegations Against Huawei and Chinese Military Grabs 145 Million SSNs

Loyal readers are familiar with the DOJ’s “China Initiative,” launched in November 2018 to prosecute the theft of U.S. trade secrets by or for Chinese interests. Attorney General Barr reaffirmed the DOJ’s commitment “to...more

Orrick - Trade Secrets Group

In a Blockbuster Economic Espionage Act Prosecution, an Attempt by the Government to Hide the Ball?

An ongoing, headline-grabbing trade secret theft prosecution against a Chinese spy is also quietly presenting a, say, disquieting attempt by prosecutors to stretch the law on what it is required to plead and prove. On the...more

Robins Kaplan LLP

Financial Daily Dose 9.11.2019 | Top Story: Hong Kong Stock Exchange Makes Surprise Bid for London Exchange

Robins Kaplan LLP on

There’s some surprise market wheeling and dealing afoot this morning. The Hong Kong stock exchange has offered to buy its London counterpart as part of a deal valued at $37 billion that would connect “the established...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Recent Criminal Misappropriation of Trade Secrets to China

Holland & Knight LLP on

Trade secrets can be stolen at any point, and such theft can be prosecuted by the Department of Justice. This is evident in recently unsealed charges brought against a software engineer who stole source code from his United...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Get Out Your Popcorn: Former Director of R&D Accused of Stealing Secret Popcorn Recipes

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

Caramel Crisp LLC, the owner of Garrett Popcorn Shops (“Garrett”), the renowned Chicago-based purveyor of deliciously flavored popcorn, recently filed suit in federal court in Chicago against its former director of research...more

Farella Braun + Martel LLP

3 Trends in Criminal Trade Secret Prosecution

Criminal trade secret prosecutions are on the rise nationwide and in the Northern District of California, especially cases relating to alleged theft by Chinese nationals and entities. According to a 2017 report by the White...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

DOJ Announces ‘China Initiative’ to Investigate and Prosecute Chinese Companies

On November 1, 2018, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) “China Initiative” with the objective of countering perceived national security threats to the United States from...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Recent Criminal Prosecutions for Trade Secret Theft

Holland & Knight LLP on

Theft of trade secrets typically spurs civil actions against the offender, but theft of trade secrets can also be prosecuted criminally under the Economic Espionage Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1831 et seq. (the “Act”) and other related...more

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