The Federal Circuit has once again affirmed the ITC's broad
jurisdiction to investigate and, if necessary, remedy
extraterritorial misappropriation of trade
secrets. Based on this and other recent
decisions, it looks like the ITC will continue to be a significant
forum for trade secret battles.
Background Regarding the ITC's
Investigation
The Commission instituted an investigation captioned
Certain Rubber Resins & Processes for Manufacturing
Same, on June 26, 2012, based on a complaint filed by SI
Group, Inc. The complaint alleged violations of Section 337 of the
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1337) related to the
importation into the U.S. of rubber resins based on
misappropriation of trade secrets. SI Group asserted the existence
of 17 trade secrets relating to the synthesizing of certain resins
that are used to manufacture tires, and that the overall
combination of the 17 individual trade secrets is itself a
protectable trade secret. SI Group's complaints