Opinion ID: 657247
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Disclosure of the Trade Secrets at Trial

Text: 130 The defendants note that the numerical constants were revealed during the course of the permanent injunction hearing. They contend that as a result of these disclosures the constants lost their status as trade secrets and therefore it was inappropriate for the district court to issue a permanent injunction. 131 Although the constants were disclosed at the permanent injunction hearing, we conclude that as a result of Gates' post-hearing measures to protect the confidentiality of the constants, they retained their status as trade secrets. Gates evidenced a continuing intent to maintain the secrecy of the constants. Under Colorado law, the holder of a trade secret is only required to exercise reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy. See Colorado Supply, 797 P.2d at 1306; Network Telecommunications, 790 P.2d at 902. The record indicates that counsel for Gates monitored the presence of observers in the courtroom. Furthermore, after the hearing was completed, Gates had the permanent injunction hearing record placed under seal. Similarly, Gates has moved to place certain exhibits on appeal under seal. We conclude that Gates' post-hearing measures, including sealing the record, were adequate to maintain the secrecy of the constants under the facts of this case. Compare Littlejohn v. BIC Corp., 851 F.2d 673, 680 (3d Cir.1988) (failure to seek an order sealing record constitutes waiver of confidentiality interests). 132 The defendants point out that the record was not sealed until this appeal had already been instituted and the defendants had filed their opening brief. However, there has been no evidence that a competitor had access to or learned of the constants during the period after the hearing and before the record was sealed. As the case comes before us, the record has been sealed and Bando has been permanently enjoined from using or disclosing these constraints. Absent a showing that the constants were published outside the court records, we conclude that Gates' inadvertent and inconsequential disclosure of the constants at trial and delay in sealing the record, are inadequate to deprive the constants of their status as trade secrets.