What is the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016?
The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 is a federal law that protects trade secrets from being misappropriated. It also makes trade secret theft a federal crime. The main purpose of this act was to provide a consistent set of laws across all states for trade secret protection. In Pennsylvania, this law protects trade secrets held by companies located in the state. Companies can take legal action under this law if someone steals their trade secrets. This includes a “civil action”, where the company can sue the thief in either state or federal court. The law also includes whistleblower protections. If an employee reports any suspected misappropriation of trade secrets, they are protected from retaliation. Furthermore, any employee who “reasonably believes” that their employer is violating the law is also protected. Finally, employees who are accused of misappropriating trade secrets must be given the opportunity to defend themselves in court. This includes providing relevant evidence to prove their innocence. The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 is an important piece of legislation that provides a consistent set of laws to protect trade secrets held by companies located in Pennsylvania. It also gives employees the right to defend themselves against accusations of misappropriation.
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