Tag: Trade Secrets

Customer Contact Info May Be Trade Secret, Georgia Federal Court Rules

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia recently decided a case involving trade secrets and restrictive covenants after a former employee took a customer contact list with him when he left to work with a competitor. The court’s ruling serves as an important reminder for employers.

It’s Time to Review Your Noncompete Agreements

The 2021 Oregon legislative session imposed further limitations on noncompetition agreements. Before the law becomes effective on January 1, 2022, you should review your agreements to ensure they provide the best possible protection. New Limits on Noncompetes Senate Bill (SB) 169, which passed during the 2021 Oregon legislative session, further limits employers’ ability to use […]

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Using Zoom Improperly Can Leave Trade Secret Protections at Risk

With many employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have depended on Zoom or other web-based video conferencing tools to conduct meetings online. Users can choose to record sessions, collaborate on projects, and share or annotate on one another’s screens. Unfortunately, the process also can open the possibility of trade secret theft if […]

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5 Trade Secret Protection Risks to Consider During a Pandemic

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, companies have changed their core business operations and instituted new practices and procedures in the blink of an eye. The changes, perhaps unknowingly, have created risks that could jeopardize the protection of valuable trade secrets.

“Silicon Valley”: Start me up

Mike Judge has done it again. A few months ago, I wrote about one of my favorite workplace flicks, Office Space, and the dangers of pushing off uncomfortable employment issues (specifically Milt Waddams, a mumbly arsonist-to-be). Now I’m hooked on Mike Judge’s latest project, HBO’s Silicon Valley.  Silicon Valley chronicles the ups and downs of […]

Exit Interviews: An Underused Tool for Protecting Your Company

HR professionals are frequently asked to do more with less. Moreover, these are challenging times, with companies facing increased employment litigation but having fewer resources for programs to strengthen the quality and longevity of the workforce. Exit interviews represent an effective and inexpensive, albeit little-used, tool for spotting and fixing problems before they turn into […]

Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, and Employee Theft

by John Vering A recent national survey found that 59 percent of employees who quit or were laid off or terminated in the last 12 months admitted to stealing company data, and 67 percent admitted to using their former employer’s confidential data to find a new job. Read on to learn what you can do […]