Diebstahl von Geschäftsgeheimnissen und Trade Secret/Non-Compete Audits

Der nachfolgende Artikel von Cary Levitt, Jeffrey Schultz, Michael Kass, John Vering and Larry Tucker (Armstrong Teasdale LLP) “United States: Trade Secret Theft” gibt einen Überblick zum Diebstahl von Geschäftsgeheimnissen (insbes. durch ausscheidende Mitarbeiter) und gibt Empfehlungen zum Schutz von Geschäftsgeheimnissen in den USA. Ein gute Sensibilisierung für die Thematik, die zum Nachdenken zwingt. Non Compete Agreements oder Non Disclosure Agreements oder Non Solicitation Agreements sind Vereinbarungen, die jeder in den USA tätige Unternehmer einzusetzen wissen sollte. Weiterführendes können Sie bei NIETZER & HÄUSLER erfragen.

Article by Cary Levitt, Jeffrey Schultz, Michael Kass, John Vering and Larry Tucker

27.Mai 2010.

You cannot afford to have your trade secrets and critical customer or technical information walk out the door. Armstrong Teasdale is partnering with companies to help them protect trade secrets, confidential information and customer relationships.

Would You Benefit From a Trade Secret/Non-Compete Audit?

A recent national survey reported that 59 percent of employees who quit or were laid off or terminated during the last 12 months admitted to stealing company data, and 67 percent admitted to using their former employer’s confidential data to find a new job.

Unfortunately, breaches of non-compete agreements and agreements not to solicit a former employer’s customers are becoming commonplace. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to protect your trade secrets, confidential information and customer relationships. Audits of your current policies, practices, agreements, technology and patent procedures are critical for ensuring that the appropriate procedures are in place to protect your valuable information and relationships.

Shocking Survey Results

The survey, sponsored by Symantec (a global leader in providing data security, storage and systems management) included employees working in corporate information technology, financial and accounting, sales, marketing and communication and human resources and found that:

53 percent of departing employees stole data by downloading it to a CD or DVD 42 percent stole data by connecting a thumb drive to a computer 38 percent transferred data to a personal e-mail account 24 percent still had network access after they had left the company 82 percent of employers failed to audit or review what documents and data was taken The most commonly stolen items include e-mail lists, employee records, customer information and critical technical information

Employees who took confidential information offered various excuses including “everyone else does,” “the information may be helpful in the future,” and “the company can’t trace the information back to me.” This alarming increase in employee theft of confidential information is cons…

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