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:
Computer Fraud & Abuse Act Articles, Cases and Posts:
- As I briefly noted in my post last night, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Senator Ron Wyden (R-OR) have introduced an amendment to the CFAA popularly known as “Aaron’s Law,” to narrow the CFAA, reports Wired. As readers of this blog know, Swartz had been charged under the CFAA after allegedly accessing the server of MIT to improperly download approximately 4.8 million academic journals; he committed suicide earlier this year after negotiations over his plea bargain broke down. The amendment would, among other things, define access without authorization and exclude online agreements, computer use policies and employment agreements from serving as a basis for a claim under the CFAA.
- For more commentary on Aaron’s Law, see Russell Beck’s post in his Fair Competition Blog, Robert Milligan’s post for Seyfarth Shaw’s Trading Secrets Blog, and Jason Weinstein’s take for Steptoe’s Cyberblog.
Trade Secret and Non-Compete Cases. Posts and Articles:
- “Obama Administration Issues New Strategic Plan for Intellectual Property Enforcement,” announces Russell Beck, who provides a fine summary in his Fair Competition Law Blog.
- The ITC and a Chinese court have come to opposite conclusions over the same basic trade secrets dispute, notes Orrick’s Trade Secrets Watch Blog. In, “Rubber Match? Resin Trade Secret Battle Results in a Multi-Jurisdictional Draw,” Mark P. Wine and Francis Cheever report that the ITC ruled in favor of American rubber manufacturer SI Group but that the Chinese court sided with Chinese manufacturer Sino Legend. For more on the ITC proceeding, see, “ITC judge rules for SI Group in intellectual property case,” in RubberNews.com.
- Speaking of long-running trade secret imbroglios involving Chinese companies, “Chinese Wind-Turbine Maker Sinovel Charged With IP Theft,” reports Law360. The U.S. Attorney for Wisconsin has indicted Sinovel for the alleged theft of source code from American Superconductor’s computer system. The New York Times also has an article covering the indictment.
- For those embroiled in a dispute over a forum selection clause in Georgia, “Atlantic Pacific Illustrates Impact of Georgia’s New Restrictive Covenants Law on Forum and Venue Selection Considerations,” advises Collin L. Freer for Berman Fink Van Horn’s Georgia Non-Compete and Trade Secret News Blog.
- “U.S. District Judge in Massachusetts Declines to Enforce Noncompetes Because the Jobs of Two Employees ‘Materially Changed,’” advises Brian Bialas for Foley & Hoag’s Massachusetts Noncompete Law Blog.
- “Tyco Accused Of Smear Campaign In Trade Secrets Row,” reports Law360.
- For more on the new Connecticut non-compete statute, see “Non-Compete Legislation In Connecticut,” by David Popick for Epstein Becker’s Trade Secrets & Noncompete Blog, and, “Connecticut Law Restricts the Use of Non-Compete Agreements in Acquisitions and Mergers,” by Patricia Reilly, Matthew Curtin and Stephen Rosenberg for Littler’s Unfair Competition & Trade Secret Counsel Blog.
- “Rogue Employees – What to do?” asks Rob Radcliff for his Smooth Transitions Blog.
- “Takeaways From UK’s Vestergaard Trade Secrets Case,” advise Akash Sachdeva and Ben Hitchens of Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP for Law360.
Cybersecurity Posts and Articles:
- “Bank’s new cybersecurity audits catch law firms flat-footed,” reports Martha Neil for the ABA News.
- “Big Banks Worried About Outside Counsel Who BYOD,” advises David Hechler for Corporate Counsel.
- “FINRA Sees ‘Proliferation’ of Complaints About Cybersecurity Breaches, Official Says,” reports Maria Lockshin for Bloomberg BNA.
- “Federal Data Breach Legislation Introduced, But Will It Go Anywhere?” asks Christin McMeley of Davis Wright Tremaine for JDSupra.