INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE DEFINITION CODE

Code § 1839, a trade secret is essentially any information that the owner (1.) takes reasonable measures to protect and (2.) has actual or potential economic value. Trade secrets enjoy one of the broadest definitions in intellectual property law.Īccording to 18 U.S.

In order for industrial espionage to be a crime, business secrets must have legal protections-and they do. The reality of industrial espionage is usually much less glamorous.įirst, the definition: “Espionage” is the theft of secrets therefore, industrial espionage is the theft of business secrets, or trade secrets. The word “espionage” calls to mind some high-stakes theft of classified information, executed by shadowy agents versed in sophisticated spycraft. You’ve heard of industrial espionage but now you wonder: How real is the threat? Industrial Espionage Defined You wonder what would happen if the competition beat you to the development or knew your company’s strategy for introducing the improved product to the market. And your R&D department is on the verge of making your product more reliable and user-friendly-any breakthrough could be a real game changer. Year after year, your firm is taking a larger market share. You’re not a giant in the field, but your company offers a viable alternative. You’re not the only company doing this, so you might also opt for savvy positioning, an extensive advertising campaign, an aggressive sales strategy, or some combination thereof. Your firm might achieve this by delivering a useful product or service that consumers feel is worth the price. Your goal is to outmaneuver the competition and snag a significant share of the market. Imagine you’re the CEO of a midsize company. How Corporate Spies Steal Trade Secrets Industrial Espionage: A Prologue

Industrial espionage definition