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Last Modified:  2011-08-06
Current through the 2010 Second Special Session
TRADE REGULA TIONS, CONSUMER PROTECTION  
CHAPTER 325C UNIFORM TRADE SECRETS ACT
Minn. Stat. §§ 325C.01 through 325C.08 (2010)
325C.01 DEFINITIONS
Subdivision 1. Scope.
As used in sections 325C.01 to 325C.07, the terms defined in these sections have the meanings given them, unless the context requires
otherwise:
Subd. 2. Improper means.
"Improper means" includes theft, bribery , misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy , or espionage
through electronic or other means;
Subd. 3. Misappropriation.
"Misappropriation" means:
(i) acquisition of a trade secret of another by a person who knows or has reason to know that the trade secret was acquired by improper
means; or
(ii) disclosure or use of a trade secret of another without express or implied consent by a person who
(A) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret; or
(B) at the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that the discloser's or user's knowledge of the trade secret was
(I) derived from or through a person who had utilized improper means to acquire it;
(II) acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or
(III) derived from or through a person who owed a duty to the person seeking relief to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or
(C) before a material change of the discloser's or user's position, knew or had reason to know that it was a trade secret and that knowledge
of it had been acquired by accident or mistake.
Subd. 4. Person.
"Person" means a natural person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government,
governmental subdivision or agency , or any other legal or commercial entity .
Subd. 5. T rade secret.Minnesota Uniform Trade Secrets ActAbout Recently Filed Cases Recent Decisions Legislative Developments Statutes Search
"Trade secret" means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that:
(i) derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by
proper means by , other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and
(ii) is the subject of ef forts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy .
The existence of a trade secret is not negated merely because an employee or other person has acquired the trade secret without express
or specific notice that it is a trade secret if, under all the circumstances, the employee or other person knows or has reason to know that
the owner intends or expects the secrecy of the type of information comprising the trade secret to be maintained.
325C.02 INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
(a) Actual or threatened misappropriation may be enjoined. Upon application to the court, an injunction shall be terminated when the trade
secret has ceased to exist, but the injunction may be continued for an additional reasonable period of time in order to eliminate commercial
advantage that otherwise would be derived from the misappropriation.
(b) In exceptional circumstances, an injunction may condition future use upon payment of a reasonable royalty for no longer than the
period of time for which use could have been prohibited. Exceptional circumstances include, but are not limited to, a material and
prejudicial change of position prior to acquiring knowledge or reason to know of misappropriation that renders a prohibitive injunction
inequitable.
(c) In appropriate circumstances, af firmative acts to protect a trade secret may be compelled by court order .
325C.03 DAMAGES
(a) Except to the extent that a material and prejudicial change of position prior to acquiring knowledge or reason to know of
misappropriation renders a monetary recovery inequitable, a complainant is entitled to recover damages for misappropriation. Damages
can include both the actual loss caused by misappropriation and the unjust enrichment caused by misappropriation that is not taken into
account in computing actual loss. In lieu of damages measured by any other methods, the damages caused by misappropriation may be
measured by imposition of liability for a reasonable royalty for a misappropriator's unauthorized disclosure or use of a trade secret.
(b) If willful and malicious misappropriation exists, the court may award exemplary damages in an amount not exceeding twice any award
made under paragraph (a).
325C.04 ATTORNEY'S FEES
If (i) a claim of misappropriation is made in bad faith, (ii) a motion to terminate an injunction is made or resisted in bad faith, or (iii) willful
and malicious misappropriation exists, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party .
325C.05 PRESER VATION OF SECRECY
In an action under sections 325C.01 to 325C.07, a court shall preserve the secrecy of an alleged trade secret by reasonable means, which
may include granting protective orders in connection with discovery proceedings, holding in-camera hearings, sealing the records of the
action, and ordering any person involved in the litigation not to disclose an alleged trade secret without prior court approval.
325C.06 STATUTE OF LIMIT ATIONS
An action for misappropriation must be brought within three years after the misappropriation is discovered or by the exercise of reasonable
diligence should have been discovered. For the purposes of this section, a continuing misappropriation constitutes a single claim.
325C.07 EFFECT ON OTHER LA W
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), sections 325C.01 to 325C.07 displace conflicting tort, restitutionary , and other law of this state
providing civil remedies for misappropriation of a trade secret.
(b) Sections 325C.01 to 325C.07 do not af fect:
(1) contractual remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret;
(2) other civil remedies that are not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; or
(3) criminal remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret.
325C.08 SHORT TITLE
Sections 325C.01 to 325C.07 may be cited as the "Uniform T rade Secrets Act."Site Map  Disclaimer  Contact
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