Protecting Mission-Critical Business Information

There may be no other category of assets that is more important to a business than its trade secrets. Proprietary processes, computer programs, chemical formulas, client lists, and other trade secrets create a company’s advantage over its competitors. If these secrets are stolen, copied, or misused in any way, any advantage they provide is gone.​

If you feel that your trade secrets are being misused by a former employee or a competitor, the litigation attorneys at Emerson Thomson Bennett are ready to help.​ We have a great deal of experience with disputes involving alleged unfair competition and the misappropriation of trade secrets. Our lawyers also defend clients accused of stealing trade secrets or similar wrongdoing.

bennett trade secret litigation law firm

What Is Considered a Trade Secret?

Trade secrets can include a wide range of confidential information. This type of intellectual property gives companies an advantage over their competitors, but only if this information is kept secret. The value of a trade secret is that the information is kept within a company. However, while many businesses may have private information that helps set them apart from their competitors, this alone does not make it a trade secret.

For information to be considered a trade secret, the company must make an effort to protect the information. Whether or not a company has taken any steps to ensure this information is kept confidential can affect if it can be considered an actual trade secret.

How Are Trade Secrets Protected?

Unlike other forms of IP, trade secrets do not have to be filed with any outside organizations, like you would with a patent or copyright. Instead, trade secrets need to be identified and protected internally. Trade secrets can also be protected for an unlimited amount of time, unlike other forms of IP. For example, a company may require employees to sign a confidentiality agreement before learning trade secrets.

Trade Secret Misappropriation

Trade secret misappropriation occurs when someone improperly acquires or discloses a trade secret. This can have many different forms, including breach of contract, espionage, bribery, theft, fraud, and gross negligence.

However, it is possible that someone discovers a trade secret legitimately. While the company may believe they have the right to sue over trade secret misappropriation, the individual who discovered the trade secret could have done so legally. This can lead to complicated cases where individuals and companies are wrongfully accused of misappropriating a trade secret.

Defend Your Company’s Assets with Emerson Thomson Bennett

At Emerson Thomson Bennett, we understand how vital trade secrets are to a company’s success. Unfortunately, some may try to infringe on your IP and misappropriate your trade secrets. Protecting your company’s trade secrets requires constant work to ensure this information stays confidential. Even the most careful companies can have someone improperly acquire or disclose this critical IP.

When your trade secrets are infringed on, you need trade secret litigation attorneys who can help you fight to recover the damages it caused. At ETB, our trade secret litigation attorneys work closely with our clients to build a chain of evidence that clearly illustrates their ownership of the trade secrets in question. We can also assist those who have been accused of misappropriating trade secrets.

Contact our trade secret litigation attorneys today for more information.

John Skeriotis

Partner – Litigation Practice Chair

John Skeriotis

Areas of Practice

Intellectual Property, Patent, Trademarks, Copyright, Internet Law, Litigation, Licensing

Email
jms@etblaw.com
Jarrett Wyatt

Associate

Jarrett Wyatt

Areas of Practice

Intellectual Property Litigation, Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights

Email
jew@etblaw.com
Matt Wilson

Matt Wilson

Akron Office

1914 Akron-Peninsula Road
Akron, OH 44313

Wedgewood Office Park

3841B Attucks Drive
Powell, OH 43065-6082

Phone:

330-434-9999

Fax:

330-434-8888

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