美国1996经济间谍法案的理解Understanding-The-Economic-Espionag

FederalProtectionofTradeSecrets:UnderstandingTheEconomicEspionageActof1996byArthurJ.SchwabandDavidJ.PorterTheEconomicEspionageActof1996(EEA),18U.S.C.Ё1831-1839,hasgainedconsiderablemediaattentionsinceitsenactmentonOctober11,1996.TheEEA'spotentiallyseverecriminalpenaltiesandseveralhigh-profileFBIstingoperationsleadingtofederalprosecutionsundertheEEAhavefocusedthebusinesscommunity'sattentiononboththenewlawandontradesecretprotectioningeneral.However,manyremainunclearastothescope,purposeandpracticalapplicationoftheEEA.ThispaperwillprovideguidancetoindividualsandcompaniesregardingissueslikelytoariseinconnectionwiththeapplicationoftheEEA.PriortoenactmentoftheEEA,federalprotectionofintellectualpropertyextendedonlytopatents.Commerciallyvaluableconfidentialinformationandtradesecretshavetraditionallybeenprotectedthroughthecommonlaw,includingtheUniformTradeSecretsActandSection757oftheRestatement(First)ofTorts.Buildinguponthelawoftradesecretsasitdevelopedinthestates,theEEAdefinestradesecretasinformationthat:(1)belongstothegeneralclassofinformationthatbearstradesecretcharacteristics;(2)isguardedthroughreasonablemeasuresdesignedtokeeptheinformationsecret;and(3)derivesindependenteconomicvaluethroughnotbeingknownorreadilyascertainablethroughpropermeansbyothers.18U.S.C.?1839(3).TheEEAcastsaverybroadnetintermsofthetypeofinformationthatisprotectedbyfederalcriminallaw.Currently,twenty-fivestateshavecriminalstatutesrelatingtomisappropriationoftradesecrets.Forthemostpart,thosestatecriminalstatutes(includingPennsylvania's)applyonlytotheftofscientificandtechnicalinformation.TheEEA,bycontrast,alsoprohibitsthemisappropriationoffinancial,businessandeconomicinformation,providingconsiderablybroaderfederalprotectionoftradesecretsthanthataffordedbymoststatecriminalstatutes.TradeSecretsMustBeProtectedByReasonableMeasuresMuchoftheearlycommentaryontheEEAhasfocusedonthelaw'srequirementthattheownerofproprietaryeconomicinformationtakereasonablemeasures(anundefinedphrase)toprotectthesecrecyofsuchinformationinordertoobtaintheprotectionsoftheEEA.18U.S.C.?1839(3)(A).SomehavesuggestedthattheonlywayabusinesscanbesureitstradesecretsareprotectedundertheEEAistoadopteverypossiblemeansofguardingthesecrecyofsuchinformation.Incivillitigation,partiesseekingjudicialprotectionoftradesecretsaregenerallyexpectedtoguardthesecrecyofsuchinformationthroughmeanscommensuratewiththeinformation'sestimatedvalue.Businessesmaytakeanynumberofstepstoprotectproprietaryeconomicinformation,includingtheuseofnondisclosureandconfidentialityagreements;covenantsnottocompete;employeeandvisitoraccesscontrols;computerpasswordsandfirewalls;implementationofdocumentprotectionandretentionpolicies;vigilanttrainingconcerningtheimportanceofconfidentiality;andexitinterviewsduringwhichdepartingemployeesareremindedoftheircontinuingdutieswithrespecttotheuseand/ordisclosureofconfidentialinformation.Whetheranycombinationofthesemeasureswillbedeemedreasonableasameansofprotectingcertainconfidentialinformationwilldependuponthevalueandcompetitivesensitivityoftheinformation,thenatureofthethreatofdisclosure,andtherelativecostofimplementingparticularsecuritymeasures.However,theEEA'slegislativehistorymanifestsCongress'sintentiontoestablishafact-basedtestofreasonableness,andnotaninflexiblerulerequiringmaximumsecurity.ConductProhibitedbytheEEATheEEAcontainstwooperativesectionsdescribingtheconductthatisprohibitedbythelaw.Section1831appliestoactorsengagedinforeigneconomicespionage,andrequiresthatthetheftoftradesecretsbenefitaforeigngovernment,instrumentalityoragent.Section1832isageneralcriminaltradesecretsstatute,applicabletoanyoneengagedinthecommonmisappropriationoftradesecrets.Bothsectionspunishonewhoknowingly:(1)stealsormisappropriatestradesecrets,(2)receivesmisappropriatedtradesecrets,or(3)participatesinaconspiracytomisappropriatetradesecrets.18U.S.C.Ё1831(a)and1832(a).TheterritorialscopeoftheEEAisveryvirtuallylimitless:itcriminalizesnotonlyactsconductedwithintheUnitedStates,butalsoforeignacts,providedtheactorisaUnitedStatesresident,18U.S.C.?1837(1),oranyactinfurtheranceoftheoffensewascommittedintheUnitedStates.18U.S.C.?1837(2).CriminalPenaltiesIndividualswhoviolatesection1832(domesticmisappropriationoftradesecrets)facepenaltiesofuptoten(10)yearsinprisonandunspecifiedfines.18U.S.C.?1832(a).(Underfederallaw,thegeneralmaximumfineforfeloniesis$250,000.)Corporationsorotherorganizationsthatviolatesection1832maybefinedupto$5million.Thepenaltiesforengaginginforeigneconomicespionageinviolationofsection1831(foreigneconomicespionage)areevengreater:themaximumorganizationalfineisincreasedto$10millionandthemaximumprisontermisraisedtofifteen(15)years.Section1834oftheEEAprovidesforforfeitureofadefendant'spropertyduringsentencing.Thetypesofpropertysubjecttotheforfeitureprovisioninclude:(1)propertyobtaineddirectlyorindirectlyasaresultoftheactor'scriminalviolation,18U.S.C.?1834(a)(1);and(2)propertythatwasusedorintendedtobeusedtocommitthecriminalviolation.18U.S.C.?1834(a)(2).HandlingAnEconomicEspionageActViolationTheEEAisafe