IP Law: Trade Secrets

The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act ("CFAA") provides criminal sanctions and civil actions for misappropriating trade secrets stored on protected computers. Section 1030(a)(2)(c) prohibits obtaining information from protected computers through interstate or foreign communication without authorization. Section 1030(a)(4) criminalizes accessing a protected computer without authorization or by exceeding authorized access with the intent to defraud. Section 1030(a)(5) prohibits intentionally causing damage to a protected computer without permission. Further, The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act protects employers from employees who steal company data.     

Sources:

Todd Kowalski, Caitlyn Coffey, Christina Danberg, Jessica Tsibidis-Goldberg, Intellectual Property Crimes, 60 Am. Crim. L. Rev. 1003 (2023)

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