access to the work,( 3) the two works are similar, i. e., copied, and( 4) the infringing work contains substantially similar protected elements of the original work. However, others may make“ fair use” of the work or independently create a similar work. 10
4. TRADE SECRETS
The Defend Trade Secrets Act( DTSA), 18 U. S. C. § 1836, provides for the protection of information that derives independent economic value from not being known to or readily ascertainable by the general public, and is subject to efforts that are reasonable to maintain its secrecy. For example, the formula for Coca-Cola. 11
Specific state laws, including the Uniform Trade Secrets Act( USTA) 12, also provide trade secret protection and are necessary to consider when analyzing whether a client has experienced or carried out a wrongful acquisition of a potential trade secret.
To establish misappropriation of a trade secret, the plaintiff must show:( 1) the existence of a trade secret, i. e., the information sought to be protected qualifies as a trade secret,( 2) the plaintiff took reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy, and( 3) a misappropriation occurred. 13
Trade secret litigation involves careful navigation, as establishing that the proprietary information constitutes a trade secret may involve necessary disclosures of highly valuable information, including elements of the trade secret at issue or other proprietary business information. Claims of misappropriation often arise when business relationships deteriorate or highly valued employees change companies. Common strategies to avoid a wrongful acquisition and prevent litigation include issuing non-compete agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and confidentiality agreements.
1.“ The Patent Act”( Title 35, U. S. C.);“ The Lanham Act” for trademarks( 15 U. S. C. § 101, et seq.); The Copyright Act( 17 U. S. C. A. § 101, et seq.); Defend Trade Secrets Act( 18 U. S. C. § 1836). North Dakota’ s“ IP statutes” fall under N. D. C. C. Title 47, Chapters 21( copyrights), 22( trademarks), 25( trade names), 25.1( trade secrets). Patents are governed exclusively by federal law. 2. Search results obtained from“ Patent Public Search”, USPTO( https:// ppubs. uspto. gov / pubwebapp /# Basic- Search). 3. This process is called“ patent prosecution.” See“ Patent process overview”, USPTO( https:// www. uspto. gov / patents / basics / patent-process-overview). Patent prosecution involves nuanced decisions one should discuss with a patent-barred attorney. Stinson’ s IP & T Division members include patentbarred attorneys available for consult. 4. The POSITA refers to the hypothetical individual possessing a requisite level of knowledge, skill, and experience in the particular technical field of the invention and sets the standard under which many elements of a patent are judged. 5. Warp Speed Torque Drive, LLC v. M. A. C. Inc., No. 3:13- CV-45, 2014 WL 11531617( D. N. D. Aug. 29, 2014).
6. 15 U. S. C. § 115( a); Loegering Mfg., Inc. v. Grouser Prods., Inc., 330 F. Supp. 2d 1057( D. N. D. 2004). 7. H & R Block, Inc. v. Block, Inc., 58 F. 4th 939( 8th Cir. 2023). 8. 17 U. S. C. A. §§ 301-305. 9. Warner Bros. Ent. v. X One X Prods., 644 F. 3d 584( 8th Cir. 2011). 10. Heritage Homes, LLC v. Benjamin Custom Homes, LLC, No. 3:18-CV-271, 2021 WL 5083739, at * 4( D. N. D. Feb. 24, 2021). 11.“ Is the Coca-Cola formula kept secret because the company has something to hide?”, Coca-Cola( https:// www. coca-cola. com / ke / en / about-us / faq / is-the-coca-colaformula-kept-secret-because-the-company-has-som). 12. Adopted by North Dakota, codified at N. D. C. C. § 47-25.1, et seq. 13. North Dakota courts have analyzed trade secret misappropriation under the DTSA and UTSA. See Ellingson Drainage, Inc., Plaintiff, v. John Kippen & Landmark Drainage, LLC, Defendants., No. 3:22-CV-189, 2025 WL 3728353( D. N. D. Sept. 30, 2025); Gen. Irrigation, Inc. v. Advanced Drainage Sys., Inc., 601 F. Supp. 3d 487( D. N. D. 2022)); USI Ins. Servs. LLC v. Bentz, No. 1:18-CV-00255, 2023 WL 5670683( D. N. D. Apr. 21, 2023).
Haley Finch is a litigation associate at Stinson in Bismarck. With a focus on business litigation, Finch works with clients on complex disputes across various industries, including intellectual property and oil and gas.
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