Webcast Details

Handout Materials

Webcast Evaluation Steptoe & Johnson Webslides: Trade Secrets in the Digital Environment Transcript: Trade Secrets in the Digital Environment Francis J. Burke Bio Rebecca Edelson Bio Protecting Trade Secrets Under CFAA Protecting Corporate Trade Secrets in a Digital Network Environment Trade Secret Case Citation List

Presented by Steptoe & Johnson LLP

How do we exploit our trade secrets while still protecting them?  Does publication on the Internet always cause information to lose its trade secret status?  Once appropriated, can we ever get our secrets back under lock and key? 

Generally speaking, a trade secret is any information that its owner has reasonably protected, that derives economic value from being kept secret and that, if known by a competitor, would afford some advantage or benefit. For most companies, these intangible assets are what gives them their edge over their business competitors. Unfortunately, nearly every business is vulnerable to having trade secrets stolen by departing employees, contractors, vendors, consultants, and licensees.  And the risk of having confidential information stolen or leaked is growing.
 
Today, information is increasingly digital in form and therefore easily published or purloined: sent by e-mail; revealed on a blog; removed on a CD, DVD, or USB drive; or photographed with a digital camera or cellphone. As both workforces and information become more mobile, companies must become increasingly vigilant and creative as they seek to protect their trade secrets from appropriation by improper means such as theft, bribery or espionage.
 
Join us for this webcast and learn more about the latest challenges, trends, case law, and First Amendment issues related to maintaining confidentiality and protecting trade secrets and know-how.  This webcast will touch on the role of the Uniform Trade Secret Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act in protecting one's trade secrets and the speakers will share options to gain relief from misappropriation and best practices for protecting one's trade secrets in a digital environment.

ACC will not seek CLE credits for this webcast 

Presenters:

    Francis J. Burke, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson LLP   
    Rebecca Edelson, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson LLP    
   

Moderator: 

    Joseph F. Murphy, General Counsel, Shainin LLC