Source: https://www.bassberryhrlawtalk.com/defend-trade-secrets-act-of-2016-signed-into-law/
Timestamp: 2019-05-23 22:54:25
Document Index: 599641626

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1838', '§ 1833', '§ 1833', '§ 1833', '§ 1833', '§ 1833', '§ 1836', '§ 1836', '§ 1836']

Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 Signed Into Law | HR Law Talk
Home » Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 Signed Into Law
By Kimberly Veirs on May 17, 2016
Preemption of State Law for Whistleblower Protection
Until now, trade secrets theft has largely been handled at the state level through lawsuits filed under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act that many states had passed. The DTSA does not preempt state laws in this area but rather is intended to supplement existing state law.[1] However, employers should be aware that the DTSA does create a whistleblower immunity that does preempt any conflicting state laws. This provision protects a whistleblower from any criminal or civil liability “for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A)(i) is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” This provision also allows for disclosure of trade secrets in an anti-retaliation lawsuit against an employer so long as the employee makes the disclosure only to the employee’s attorney and so long as any court filing keeps the trade secrets under seal .[2]
If you need assistance in assessing your confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements to ensure that you are in compliance with the new provisions of the DTSA, or if you have any questions about this post, please contact one of our Labor attorneys.
For further analysis about the DTSA, read an earlier alert from our Intellectual Property attorneys, “Trade Secrets Legislation Sails Through Senate.”
[1] 18 U.S.C. § 1838.
[2] 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(2)(A)-(B).
[3] 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(3)(A).
[4] 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(3)(B).
[5] 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(4).
[6] 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(3)(C).
[7] 18 U.S.C. § 1836(b)(2)(A)(i).
[8] 18 U.S.C. § 1836(b)(2)(G).
[9] 18 U.S.C. § 1836(b)(3)(A)-(D).