Corporate espionage is as old as the day is long. The modern digital world has made it easier than ever to gain access to sensitive “secret sauce”, such as software, customer and vendor lists, business methods, techniques, formulas and recipes. With a significant shift to a remote working environment and the relative ease of employee portability, protecting and defending confidential information and trade secrets must be at the top of the priority list for any organization. In May 2022, in Appian v. Pegasystems, a jury awarded likely the largest sum in the history of Virginia state court proceedings, finding that Pegasystems was liable for $2 billion-plus in damages to Appian for planting a corporate spy at Appian for over 10 years…. While the facts of the Appian case are not particularly unusual, the measure of damages is quite stunning.
Recent Posts
- Does the 2025 Version of PERA Indirectly Sanction Judicially Created, Non-Statutory ODP?
- Squires Takes Over All IPR Institution Decisions in Memo to PTAB Judges
- Other Barks & Bites for Friday, October 17: CAFC Finds Prosecution Disclaimer in Examiner Acceptance of Patentee’s Scope; Japan Urges Opt-In Copyright Model for Sora 2; and Seventh Circuit Clarifies Evidence Required for Sound Recording Copyright Claims
- USPTO Issues NPRM on IPR Practice, Withdraws Vidal-Era Proposal
- Federal Circuit Finds No Due Process Violation Stems from Inconsistent Positions on Patent Ownership at PTAB, ITC