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ARTICLE · 26 MARCH 2024

With A Focus On Intellectual Property, NDCA Launches Its Own Whistleblower Pilot Program

Jones Day
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First teased by the Department of Justice ("DOJ") in early March, details regarding the NDCA Program have now been issued. The NDCA Program encourages individuals to disclose criminal conduct and cooperate in its investigation in exchange for an NPA.

United StatesCriminal Law
Karen Hewitt
Karen Hewitt
Randy Kay
Randy Kay
Jeff Rabkin
Jeff Rabkin
Jeff Schenk
Jeff Schenk
Neal Stephens
Neal Stephens
Amul Kalia
Amul Kalia
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In Short

The Situation: On March 14, 2024, the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California ("NDCA") revealed details of its new whistleblower pilot program ("NDCA Program").

The Result: Individuals who report information related to certain categories of criminal conduct to NDCA will receive a non-prosecution agreement ("NPA") in exchange for their cooperation in investigating the conduct, provided they meet certain conditions. The NDCA Program is unique because it specifically focuses on reporting conduct related to intellectual property theft.

Looking Ahead: Companies should be aware of the criminal conduct subject to the NDCA Program and, in particular, its focus on intellectual property theft.

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