Defend Trade Secrets Act – A Budding Avenue For Trade Secret Enforcement

In June, agriculture giant Monsanto was the first to use the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) by filing a federal suit in the Eastern District of Missouri naming one former employee and a number of John and Jane Does as defendants.

The DTSA, 18 U.S.C. 1836, provides a federal civil action for filing a trade secret claim. Previously, the only federal relief was a criminal action under the Economic Espionage Act. One notable feature of the act is that it does not pre-empt traditional state law claims for trade secret misappropriation. In addition to providing a federal claim, the DTSA offers enhanced damages, ex parte seizure provisions and the ability to recover attorneys' fees. To take advantage of the act, employers must accept its whistleblower immunity provisions and provide notice to their employees of the availability of such immunity.