Here are the noteworthy trade secret, non-compete and cybersecurity stories from the past week, as well as one or two that I missed over the past couple of weeks:
Trade Secret and Non-Compete Posts and Articles:
- House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI) has announced that he will be presenting a bill later this year that will penalize foreign countries that sponsor hackers that attempt to steal trade secrets from U.S. companies. In an article for Main Justice, Katy O’Donnell writes that Rogers will be considering some unconventional remedies such as suspension of visas and other tools.
- “DuPont Wins Kolon Property In $920M Recovery Effort,” reports Law360.
- For the latest on the Eagle v. Morgan social media ownership case, see Jessica Mendelson’s post for Seyfarth Shaw’s Trading Secrets Blog. As Jessica details, the trial court found that Dr. Eagle’s former employer misappropriated her LinkedIn profile but that Dr. Eagle failed to prove her damages.
- “Live Events Agency Sues Former Employees And Independent Contractor For Breach Of Non-Solicitation Agreements,” advises John Paul Nefflen for Burr & Forman’s Non-Compete Trade Secrets Blog.
- “Patterson Atty Gained Secrets Through Ruse, Doc Says,” reports Law360. According to the article, the attorney approached a Pennsylvania physician to advise him and then extracted information from the inventor of surgical stapling technologies in order to give a client a leg up in licensing negotiations.
- “Cease and Desist Letters Enjoy an Absolute Privilege from Libel Claims,” advises Kara Maciel for Epstein Becker’s Trade Secrets & Non-Compete Blog.
- “MGA’s Trade Secrets Claim On Brink In Bratz Case,” reports Law360, as MGA fights upstream to revive its trade secrets claim.
- “Restaurant Industry Giant Landry’s Sues Former Employee & Rival Restaurant Company,” advises Jonathan Pollard in the non-compete blog.
- “Many U.S. Businesses in China Cite Data Theft,” reports Carlos Tejada for The Wall Street Journal’s Corruption Currents Blog. According to the survey, 26% of companies with a presence in China have had their trade secrets stolen and 40% see the risks rising.
- “How New Trade Secret Legislation Impacts Pharma Compliance Programs,” reports Fish & Richardson’s Jose Sierra for the Pharmaceutical Compliance Monitor.
- “Practice Tip: Don’t Call Your Liquidated Damages Clause a ‘Penalty In the Contract,” cautions Kenneth Vanko in his Legal Developments in Non-Competition Agreements Blog.
- For the litigators: “Sanctions For Deleted Facebook Give Employers A Boost,” reports Law360. Epstein Becker has a post about the case as well.
Cybersecurity Posts and Articles:
- In The Wall Street Journal’s “Weekend Interview” entitled, “Why China is Reading Your Email,” cyber expert Timothy Thomas believes the recent cyber attacks are part of a military strategy and that an offensive strategy may be needed.
- “Cyberattacks Seem Meant to Destroy, Not Just Disrupt,” notes Nicole Petlroth for The New York Times Bits Blog.
- “New Hacking Study Shows What Good Guys Are Up Against,” advises The Wall Street Journal’s Digits Blog.
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Posts and Cases: