How to Play the Best Offense and Defense When it Comes to Trade - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

How to Play the Best Offense and Defense When it Comes to Trade Secret Protection: A Comprehensive Guide from Recruitment to Separation

Allison ¡Bowers ¡ ¡| ¡allison@hutchesonbowers.com ¡| ¡512.777.4449 ¡

@hutchesonbowers

Recruiting and On-Boarding

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

IP Defense When Onboarding Employees

Determine non-compete obligations. Evaluate risk. – Non-compete enforceable? – NDA? – Risk of disclosing competitor’s confidential info?

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

You represent that, except as you have disclosed in writing here to the Company, you are not bound by any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from using or disclosing any trade secret or confidential information in the course of your employment with the Company. ______ No agreements. ______ Employee Initials You represent that, except as you have disclosed in writing here to the Company, you are not bound by any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from competing with the business of such previous employer or any other party. ______ No agreements. ______ Employee Initials You represent that your employment by the Company does not and will not breach any agreement you may have with other parties, including without limitation agreements to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by you in confidence or trust before your employment by the Company or agreements not to compete with former employers. ______ Employee Initials . You represent and agree that you will not use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets of any former employer or

• ther person or entity and will not bring onto the premises of the Company any unpublished document or proprietary information

belonging to any such former employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer, person or entity. ______ Employee Initials Before beginning your job with the Company, you represent that you have performed a complete search of your home(s), office(s), automobile(s), computers, electronic devices, and mobile and other phones for trade secrets and confidential information that may belong to any former employer or other third party. You understand that even the inadvertent possession of such third party property may increase the risk that the Company may be sued. Accordingly, you represent that you have searched for this information and have destroyed or returned all such property to such third parties, and no longer retain any such property. ______ Employee Initials

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

IP Offense When Onboarding Employees

Sign a non-compete.

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Customize!

• Definition of Confidential Information
• Agreement Type

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

The Arbitration Trap

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Legal Developments

– Marsh v. Cook: Stock Options – Drennen v. ExxonMobil: Incentive Comp/Forfeiture/ Choice of Law

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

During Employment

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Trade Secret Defense During Employment

Remember non-solicitation of employee agreements

*ethical screen/insulation wall

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Trade Secret Defense During Employment

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Keep secret information secret.

*balance convenience with protection

Trade Secret Offense During Employment

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Have a plan. Make it easy to get evidence.

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

IT Security Considerations

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Policy Considerations

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

• BYOD
• No Expectation of Privacy
• Storage of Confidential Information
• Dropbox
• Personal Email
• Cloud
• Flashdrive

Decide who will be your corporate rep

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Terminations and Departures

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Forensic Computer Analysis

IP Offense When Employee Departs

Standard Practice: Reminder letter with Agreement on the way out Take Action – Cease-and Desist Letters v. TRO

Hutcheson ¡| ¡Bowers ¡LLLP ¡

Allison ¡Bowers ¡ ¡| ¡allison@hutchesonbowers.com ¡| ¡512.777.4449 ¡

@hutchesonbowers