California law recognizes that common, every-day pieces of data can be afforded protection as a trade secret. For example, customer lists, business plans, spreadsheets, corporate minutes and agendas, and bid specifications can be afforded protection as trade secrets.
In this electronic age, companies must take reasonable measures to protect trade secret information. Reasonable electronic measures may include having secured networks, limited employee access to certain directories, firewalls, multi-character passwords, or other ways to limit access or to track employee network activity.
To further protect their investments, companies should also make certain that they take the following measures to safeguard trade secret information: 1) make certain that contractual measures are in place to protect confidential data and trade secrets such as updated confidentiality agreements, non-solicitation provisions and intellectual property assignment contracts, 2) promulgate policies regarding the use of electronic storage devices, internet use, and use of the company's e-mail system to help prevent misappropriation, 3) remind employees of their contractual obligations to protect confidential information and not to use or disclose trade secrets which can be done during exit or new-hire interviews and 4) have a legal plan of action in place in the event you learn that trade secrets have been misappropriated, or that you have hired an employee who may have misappropriated trade secrets.
|
|