Newly enacted New Jersey Trade Secrets Act protects
businesses against actual or threatened misappropriation of trade
secrets, providing for injunctive relief, damages, punitive
damages, and attorney's fees.
On January 9, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed the New
Jersey Trade Secrets Act (NJTSA). The NJTSA brings New Jersey in
line with 46 other states and the District of Columbia, all of
which have enacted a version of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. The
NJTSA provides to New Jersey businesses a new tool that can be used
in the event of actual or threatened misappropriation of trade
secrets.
Prior to the enactment of this new statute, New Jersey did not
have statutory protection for trade secrets. Businesses in New
Jersey could only enforce their trade secrets by bringing actions
based on common law, as the federal trade secret statute is limited
to criminal actions. While other federal statutes often apply in
cases involving trade secret theft, such as the
