The Uniform Trade Secret Act covers all employers. Trade secrets are considered concepts, ideas, written documentation and more that provide an independent economic value that is not general known in the industry, reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy, and common types of trade secrets include:
•Customers and supply list
• Negative know how
• Manufacturing Methods
• Marketing and financial plans
• Computer source codes
Protecting trade secret should include:
• Keeping the information safe
• Provide agreements for new employees to sign
• Have a provision in the employee handbook
• Have sign-in/sign-out procedures, as appropriate
• Discuss trade secrets on a regular basis during staff meetings
• Cover trade secrets doing the exit interview
Misappropriate is when a trade secret is acquired and used by someone who knows, or should have known, that it was acquired by improper means. Misappropriation is also the disclosure and use of a trade secret of another without consent.
Avoid misappropriate claims by: Evaluating information provided by new employees (consider source of knowledge, public domain, and how the knowledge was acquired), pre-hire counseling (balance between right-to-work and misappropriation), and develop a policy that you will not use misappropriated trade secrets (including pirated software).
In the capacity of an employee of VVM, VVMP, SHM, SHMP, AFFORDABLE CREMATIONS OF THE HIGH DESERT, TOPOCK INVESTMENT GROUP, TOPOCK MARINA, RUNNING BEAR, HIG, ALTERNATIVE AAC, CHET & TIM AND ALL AFILIATED COMPANIES AND SUBSIDARIES you may acquire knowledge of and have contracts with valuable customers and you may acquire confidential information relating to the business of VVM, VVMP, SHM, SHMP, AFFORDABLE CREMATIONS OF THE HIGH DESERT, IT’S A HITT CORP AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, TOPOCK INVESTMENT GROUP, TOPOCK MARINA, RUNNING BEAR, HIG, ALTERNATIVE AAC, CHET & TIM AND ALL AFILIATED COMPANIES AND SUBSIDARIES including, without limitation, patents, processes, computer programs, compilation of information, records, sales procedures marketing practices, customer requirements, pricing and bidding techniques, customer lists, supplies, contracting systems, financing techniques and sources, project and loss statements of VVM, VVMP, SHM, SHMP, AFFORDABLE CREMATIONS OF THE HIGH DESERT, IT’S A HITT CORP AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, TOPOCK INVESTMENT GROUP, TOPOCK MARINA, RUNNING BEAR, HIG, ALTERNATIVE AAC, CHET & TIM AND ALL AFILIATED COMPANIES AND SUBSIDARIES and other confidential information (all of which knowledge and information are collectively referred to as “trade secrets”). Any disclosure of ‘trade secrets’). Any disclosure of trade secrets to any unauthorized individual, business or employee, is grounds for discipline, up to and including termination. In addition, VVM, VVMP, SHM, SHMP, AFFORDABLE CREMATIONS OF THE HIGH DESERT, IT’S A HITT CORP AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, TOPOCK INVESTMENT GROUP, TOPOCK MARINA, RUNNING BEAR, HIG, ALTERNATIVE AAC, CHET & TIM AND ALL AFILIATED COMPANIES AND SUBSIDARIES may, at its discretion, pursue legal action for any violations.
