Gainesville Trade Secret Misappropriation Lawyer

Gainesville Trade Secret Misappropriation Attorney

The livelihood of companies ranging from food manufacturers to software companies depends on secret recipes, formulas, or processes that make their products unique and desirable. When those trade secrets are stolen or violated, the entire security of the company could be at stake. It’s one thing to secure the rights to your business’s trade secrets, but when someone else abuses those rights, you need a Gainesville trade secret misappropriation lawyer.

Alagood Cartwright Burke PC attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience. We understand the complex state and federal trade secret misappropriation laws better than any other law firm in North Texas. When you partner with a Gainesville trade secret misappropriation lawyer, you ensure high-quality representation and advocacy on your behalf.

What Are Trade Secrets?

Some business owners prefer to keep the secrets of their success to themselves. Companies with products or processes that are unique and proprietary may feel that if they disclosed certain details about their products or processes, other companies would copy them. This might not only create devastating competition, but it can also weaken the quality and exclusivity of their own offerings.

To avoid this, many companies make the choice to protect their trade secrets under federal law. The Uniform Trade Secrets Act, or the UTSA, allows them to do so. Trade secret rights can protect a formula, a process, a design, a recipe, or some other piece of information that is unique to a company’s service or product. Typically, the success of the company rests on the protection of its trade secrets.

Protecting Trade Secrets

When a trade secret is violated, it is called misappropriation. It is illegal under the federal Economic Espionage Act, or the EEA. The EEA is a set of trade secret misappropriation laws that imparts serious legal consequences on anyone who steals, leaks, or uses someone else’s trade secret without the owner’s permission. In addition to economic espionage, theft of trade secrets is a common criminal charge in trade secret misappropriation cases.

The United States International Trade Commission reported that 2.5% of unfair acts alleged in active investigations in 2024 were solely trade secret misappropriation. These are serious crimes that can warrant up to 10 years in prison for trade secret theft, according to the EEA. Both individuals and corporations, among other groups, can be convicted of theft of trade secrets and heavily fined.

According to a report on safeguarding trade secrets in the US, the danger of misappropriation is more real than ever, especially as internet technology grows and the tactics of hackers and other internet criminals get more advanced. The report warns of foreign governments, businesses, and individuals becoming increasingly more threatening when it comes to protecting trade secrets.

Hire a Trade Secret Misappropriation Lawyer

Many businesses rely on trade secrets for success, but they don’t know what to do when misappropriation of their trade secret occurs. A Gainesville trade secret misappropriation attorney can provide invaluable advice on both state and federal laws. They can also advise you on what you need to do and what you need to obtain to protect your trade secrets.

When it is necessary to act against someone who has violated your right to your protected trade secret, a seasoned attorney’s complex understanding of misappropriation laws can serve your case well. If you must take your case to trial, you need the fierce litigation of a skilled and experienced Gainesville trade secret misappropriation attorney.

Alagood Cartwright Burke PC has represented successful trade secret misrepresentation cases in which our clients needed our investigative skills to prove trade secret misrepresentation. We are knowledgeable of trade secret laws and what it takes to break them, as well as protect the rights of our clients.

FAQs

What Constitutes Misappropriation of a Trade Secret?

Misappropriation of a trade secret is constituted by several illegal acts. For one, anyone who acquires a protected trade secret by means of bribery, theft, or misrepresentation is guilty of misappropriation. Anyone who uses or discloses a protected trade secret without the owner’s authorization is guilty of misappropriation. Finally, anyone who violates a contractual obligation, such as a non-disclosure agreement, would be in violation of trade secret protections.

What Are the Three Requirements for a Trade Secret?

The three requirements of a trade secret are that it is economically valuable information that is not known by the general public, for one. Secondly, it has value to others who do not have legitimate means to legally obtain the trade secret. Third, those who do have access to the information have gone to reasonable efforts to keep it secret.

What Is Illegal Under Trade Secret Law?

Under trade secret law, certain acts relating to the handling of sensitive trade secrets are illegal. These include theft of the secret in any way, shape, or form. Also illegal is the unauthorized use or disclosure of the secret by trusted individuals who, in whatever way, came to know the secret. Finally, a breach of duty to confidentiality according to such legal obligations as a non-disclosure contract is illegal under trade secret law.

What Happens if Someone Violates a Trade Secret?

If someone violates a trade secret, severe consequences can be imposed on the individual who violates trade secret law. These consequences, though, must be initiated by the trade secret owner. The trade secret owner can impose injunctions and damages against the criminal acts. They may also seek criminal prosecution. Both scenarios can result in high fines and legal fees, depending on the economic damages at stake.

Gainesville Trade Secret Misappropriation Lawyer

If you’re looking to hire a trade secret misappropriation lawyer, there’s no better lawyer for the job than an Alagood Cartwright Burke PC attorney. Our highly esteemed reputation in the community is unmatched. If you need the highest standard in legal representation for your trade secret misappropriation, contact our office to schedule a meeting with our legal team. With our knowledge and experience on your side, you can confidently navigate the legal challenges ahead.