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Last Modified:  2011-07-31
Burns Ind. Code Ann. §§ 24-2-3-1 through 24-2-3-8 (201 1) 
§ 24-2-3-1. Title and construction of chapter .
(a) This chapter may be cited as the Uniform T rade Secrets Act.
(b) This chapter shall be applied and construed to ef fectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject matter
of this chapter among states enacting the provisions of this chapter .
(c) The chapter displaces all conflicting law of this state pertaining to the misappropriation of trade secrets, except contract law and criminal
law. 
§ 24-2-3-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter , unless the context requires otherwise:
"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.
"Misappropriation" means:
(1) 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
(2) 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;
(B) At the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that his 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 his 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.
"Person" means a natural person, limited liability company , corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture,
government, governmental subdivision or agency , or any other legal or commercial entity .
"Trade secret" means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that:
(1) 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; andIndiana Uniform Trade Secrets ActAbout Recently Filed Cases Recent Decisions Legislative Developments Statutes Search
(2) Is the subject of ef forts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy .
§ 24-2-3-3. Misappropriation -- Injunction.
(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) If the court determines in exceptional circumstances that it would be unreasonable to prohibit future use, an injunction may condition
future use upon payment of a reasonable royalty for no longer than the period of time the use could have been prohibited.
(c) In appropriate circumstances, af firmative acts to protect a trade secret may be compelled by court order .
§ 24-2-3-4. Misappropriation -- Damages -- Payment of royalties.  
(a) In addition to or in lieu of injunctive relief, a complainant may recover damages for the actual loss caused by misappropriation. A
complainant also may recover for the unjust enrichment caused by misappropriation that is not taken into account in computing damages
for actual loss.
(b) When neither damages nor unjust enrichment are provable, the court may order payment of a reasonable royalty for no longer than the
period during which the use could have been prohibited.
(c) If willful and malicious misappropriation exists, the court may award exemplary damages in an amount not exceeding twice any award
made under subsection (a).
§ 24-2-3-5. Attorney's fees.
If:
(1) A claim of misappropriation is made in bad faith;
(2) A motion to terminate an injunction is made or resisted in bad faith; or
(3) Willful and malicious misappropriation exists;
the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party .
§ 24-2-3-6. Preservation of trade secret -- Court actions authorized.
In an action under this chapter , 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.
§ 24-2-3-7. Statute of limitations.
An action for misappropriation must be brought within three (3) 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.
§ 24-2-3-8. Application to misappropriations beginning before September 1, 1982.  
If a continuing misappropriation otherwise covered by this chapter began before September 1, 1982, the chapter does not apply to the part
of the misappropriation that [occurred] before that date. It does apply to the part that occurs after August 31, 1982, unless the appropriation
was not a misappropriation under the law displaced by this chapter .
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