January 13, 2012
The need for U.S. companies to protect their trade secrets and other confidential, proprietary information is reflected in the increasing number of significant trade secret and related lawsuits over the past year. Several high-stakes jury trials resulted in substantial damages awards to victims of trade secret misappropriation. The Department of Justice also brought several significant criminal prosecutions for trade secret theft and economic espionage, many involving defendants allegedly acting on behalf of foreign state-owned entities. Corporate executives and law departments would be well advised to follow the recommendation of the U.S. Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive and ensure that "the protection of trade secrets and computer networks is an integral part of all corporate decisions and processes."
Jason Schwartz, Alexander Southwell and Molly Senger of Gibson Dunn highlight significant 2011 developments in their article "2011 Trade Secrets Litigation Round-Up" published in BNA’s Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal in January 2012.
Reprinted with permission from BNA’s Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal, 1/13/2012. © 2012, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s lawyers are available to assist in addressing any questions you may have regarding the issues discussed in this update. Please contact the Gibson Dunn lawyer with whom you work, the authors (Jason C. Schwartz (202-955-8242, [email protected]), Alexander H. Southwell (212-351-3981, [email protected]), or Molly T. Senger (202-955-8571, [email protected])), or any of the following practice group co-chairs:
Labor and Employment Group:
Eugene Scalia – Washington, D.C. (202-955-8206, [email protected])
Intellectual Property Group:
Denis R. Salmon – Palo Alto (650-849-5301, [email protected])
Wayne Barsky – Los Angeles (310-557-8183, [email protected])
Mark Reiter – Dallas (214-698-3360, [email protected])
Josh Krevitt – New York (212-351-2490, [email protected])
Information Technology and Data Privacy Practice Group:
M. Sean Royall – Dallas (214-698-3256, [email protected])
Debra Wong Yang – Los Angeles (213-229-7472, [email protected])
S. Ashlie Beringer – Palo Alto (650-849-5219, [email protected])
Alexander H. Southwell – New York (212-351-3981, [email protected])
© 2012 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
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