What is trade secret misappropriation?

Trade secret misappropriation is a legal term used to describe the wrongful obtaining and using of private information. It is a form of intellectual property infringement in which someone obtains knowledge or data that is meant to be kept confidential. In California, trade secret misappropriation is illegal, and it is a crime to acquire, use, or disclose trade secrets that you are not authorized to use. When it comes to trade secrets, the law is designed to protect a business’s confidential information or ideas from being disclosed or used by an unauthorized person. For example, a business’s recipe for a particular food item would be considered a trade secret and it would be illegal for someone to steal that recipe and use it for their own business. Trade secret misappropriation can also occur when a party has signed a nondisclosure agreement not to disclose or use confidential information, but then does so anyway. It is important for business owners to take the necessary precautions to ensure the confidentiality of their valuable information, such as by having confidentiality agreements in place and taking steps to protect their trade secrets from disclosure. If a business believes that their trade secret has been misappropriated, they may have legal options available to them and should seek out the advice of an experienced attorney.

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What is trade secret misappropriation?

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