UTSA Archives - Fair Competition Law

Official Launch of the Trade Secret Training Series (Videos)

May 2, 2023May 24, 2023

Education comes at a price. But not this time. Beck Reed Riden is making available its Ten Minute Trade Secret Training Series videos freely available - and available for free. With the FTC rule banning noncompetes on the horizon and more states limiting the use of noncompetes, it is now more imperative than ever before that companies and employees take steps to protect their trade secrets, other confidential information, and customer relationships.

Time to Amend the Defend Trade Secrets Act

May 1, 2023May 1, 2023

Episode 22 of Fairly Competing is out! Join us for a discussion of some practical problems with the Defend Trade Secrets Act, John Marsh’s ideas for amendments to fix them, and our plan to try to make the fixes happen.

100 Trade Secret Lawyers Can’t Be Wrong

Apr 20, 2023May 23, 2023

Once again, we have resounding unanimity on the issues and recommendations to the FTC, as they consider whether to move forward with their plan to ban noncompetes, as well as some nondisclosure agreements and other restrictive covenants. Over 100 lawyers who practice extensively in the area of trade secret and restrictive covenant law agree: federal regulation is likely inappropriate, definitely premature, and, in any event, should be limited.

Where have all the secrets gone? Longer time passing. (Part 2)

Jan 3, 2023Feb 5, 2023

In Part 2 of our tour of the history of trade secret law and developments since before Roman times, we pick up while Newton is inventing calculus.

Where have all the secrets gone? Long time passing.

Dec 27, 2022Feb 5, 2023

As we ponder the best ways to protect trade secrets today, it’s good to have a quick reminder that this has been a long-term issue. So, we’ll take a two-part tour of trade secret law and developments from before Roman times to now.

Upcoming Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenant Law Learning (Fall 2022)

Aug 22, 2022Sep 27, 2022

Given that good CLE programs can be hard to identify, I put together a list of a few upcoming, content-rich programs that I and leading practitioners, in-house counsel, experts, and others from around the country are participating in.

Protecting Trade Secrets While Working From Home (Reboot)

Feb 21, 2022Sep 27, 2022

Over 50 percent of employees admit stealing company information when they leave for a new job. It’s this “insider threat” that keeps us up at night. To help combat it, we have updated and reissued our training, Protecting Trade Secrets While Working From Home, with improved audio and additional substance.

Avoiding Mistakes When Starting A New Job – A New Ten Minute Trade Secret Training Video

Feb 3, 2022Sep 27, 2022

You hired someone from a competitor. You’re excited. They’re excited. But you may have bought yourself a lawsuit. Can you avoid it? Maybe.

Fairly Competing, Episode 13: Year in Review

Dec 24, 2021Jul 10, 2022

Happy holidays! Episode 13 of Fairly Competing is out! In this episode, John, Ben, and Russell take a look back on some of the more significant developments in trade secret and restrictive coven...

Ask 70 Trade Secret Lawyers and Paralegals about Noncompetes and Get One Opinion

Dec 22, 2021Jul 10, 2022

Once again, we have resounding unanimity on the issues and recommendations to the FTC and DOJ, as they consider whether to regulate (and if so, how) noncompetes, nondisclosure agreements, and other restrictive covenants. 70 lawyers who practice extensively in the area of trade secret and restrictive covenant law agree: federal regulation is likely inappropriate, definitely premature, and, in any event, should be limited.

Please Stop Using California as the Poster Child to Ban Noncompetes – Time for an Honest Policy Discussion

Nov 2, 2021Jul 10, 2022

No one ever points to North Dakota’s or Oklahoma’s ban on noncompete as producing a thriving tech sector, because they haven’t. Yet, somehow think that the same ban in California is why we have Silicon Valley. This assumption is wrong for multiple reasons. Worse, it leads to poor policy.

Upcoming Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenant Law Learning (Fall 2021)

Sep 13, 2021Jul 10, 2022

As regular readers of this blog know, I focus on providing content and rarely suggest educational programs to attend. However, given that CLE programs are still remote and can be hard to identify, I t...

15 Common Myths About Noncompetes Debunked

Aug 2, 2021Aug 2, 2021

Misconceptions about noncompetes abound. And, as noncompete agreements are increasingly in the cross-hairs of the media and legislators, it has become increasingly clear that some of the most vocal de...

Upcoming Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenant Law Learning

May 30, 2021May 29, 2021

As regular readers of this blog know, I focus on providing content and rarely suggest programs to attend. However, given that CLE programs are still remote and can be hard to identify, I thought I’d take a moment to call out a few upcoming, content-rich programs. Take a look.

Massachusetts Uniform Trade Secrets Act: Preemption in State Court

Apr 23, 2021Nov 4, 2022

The Business Litigation Session (the “BLS”) of the Massachusetts Superior Court just issued a decision on the scope of preemption under Massachusetts “new” (effective October 1, 2018) trade secret law, the Massachusetts Uniform Trade Secrets Act (sometimes referred to as “MUTSA,” and other times as “MTSA”). See what it says.

Upcoming Trade Secret Law Learning

Oct 23, 2020Oct 31, 2020

As regular readers of this blog know, I focus on providing content, and don’t often suggest programs to attend. However, it just so happens that over the course of the next week, there are three programs that all provide some helpful insights, each in a different way. Take a look.

PSA: Protecting Trade Secrets – Working at Home – Training Video Is Updated and Available

Oct 18, 2020Oct 21, 2020

We recently updated our “Ten Minute Training” series video, Protecting Trade Secrets - Working at Home. The need for this type of training has never been so compelling. Just look at Smash My Trash, LLC.

Reminder: Zoom Needs to Be Set Appropriately to Protect Your Trade Secrets

Oct 18, 2020Oct 18, 2020

You’ve heard the warnings: Set your Zoom settings to require a new ID for each meeting, require a password for entry, put people in waiting rooms, etc. Well, it actually matters – and not just in theory, but in real life. Let us know if you would like our free training video.