Even though trade secret rights are governed today almost entirely by statute (the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) in every state except New York, and the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act [DTSA]), its operative principles are rooted in common law traditions of tort and the twin policy objectives of “maintenance of standards of commercial ethics and the encouragement of invention.” Kewanee Oil Co. v. Bicron Corp., 416 U.S. 470, 481 (1974). Therefore, the Restatement (of Torts, from 1939, and of Unfair Competition, from 1995) can hold sway with courts even when they are engaged in statutory interpretation…. Here is a selection of those decisions, along with other resources, which have come out during (approximately) the past year and which I believe provide helpful guideposts about important aspects of trade secret law and practice.
Recent Posts
- Novartis’ Entresto Patent Claims Revived by CAFC
- INTA Urges EUIPO Grand Board to Confirm Human Face Marks are Not Excluded from Trademark Registration
- New USPTO Fee Rule for Continuing Applications: Key Changes and Strategic Considerations for Applicants
- AI and the Level of Ordinary Skill: Why Patent Law Must (and Can) Adapt to AI-Augmented Invention
- Federal Circuit Upholds PTAB Win for Patent to Detect Genetic Disorders