IPaint

In this space, we have spent considerable time discussing the laws of trade secrecy.  That’s what us lawyers do – geek out on the law.  But, if you look up under my crisp Armani suit (yeah, like I have one!), what you will find…

In this article, we will explore the situation where your trade secrets have been absconded in the hands of a mid-level employee, only to discover that you have failed to contractually protect yourself. No Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) exists to set out the limitations on disclosure of your trade secrets and remedies for misappropriation.

One of your highest level managers, one with complete access to all your inside information and trade secrets, quits and immediately heads over to your direct competitor. He does not have a covenant-not-to-compete, and maybe not even a binding non-di…

Regardless of whether you have conducted a DIY trade secret audit (good idea) or not (not good - asking for trouble), you should consider finalizing your trade secret protection with a professional third party audit. Why? Because having your security…

The DIY approach looms large in certain sectors of our industry, with do-it-yourselfers painting everything from model cars to kitchens to yachts. As discussed in previous iPaint columns, trade secrets as a means to gain competitive edges also have a…

Queen’s Counsel: You have testified to this Court that you personally handed any bloke who walked into my client’s front office the computer code that contains its trade secrets, no questions asked. Is that right, Mr. Smythe? Witness: Wh…

So, rather than protecting your product and your market share using trade secrets, you opt to patent your new and exciting additive, coating formulation, paint container, paint sprayer, etc., in the United States. Let’s say the U.S. is a huge m…

Secret formulas, manufacturing pro­cesses, financial information, future product plans, customer lists…what are your trade secrets and what are you doing to protect them from inadvertent or intentional misuse or misappropriation by your ow…

OK. We all know what trade secrets are, right? The formula for Coca Cola is supposedly in a heavily guarded vault in Atlanta (yeah, right). We can all probably agree that if someone swipes the Coke formula, they are guilty of trade secret theft (amon…

Protecting novel compositions and processes.

Maybe that’s a little harsh. But, that indeed WAS the punishment exacted by Chinese emperors for several thousand years upon anyone caught attempting to export Bombyx mori (silkworms) or mulberry seeds (Morus alba) in order to start internation…

A “protective wall of paper”—a series of documents including agreements and restrictive covenants to protect your trade secrets—is your first line of defense against the techno-thief (“The Wall”). Kinda like a lock…