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45 Gonz. L. Rev. 291 (2009-2010)
A Statistical Analysis of Trade Secret Litigation in Federal Courts

handle is hein.journals/gonlr45 and id is 295 raw text is: A Statistical Analysis of Trade Secret Litigation in Federal Courts David S. Almeling,' Darin W. Snyder,2 Michael Sapoznikow,3 Whitney E. McCollum,4 and Jill Weader TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION. ........................................ 292 II. METHODOLOGY ............................................. 295 A. There Is Little Statistical Analysis on Trade Secrets ...... ..... 295 B. Selection of Opinions .......................... ...... 298 C. Coding of Opinions ................................. 300 D. Limitations of the Methodology ............................. 300 III. TRADE SECRET LITIGATION IN FEDERAL COURTS .......... .......... 301 A. In the Past 50 Years, the Number of Trade Secret Cases Has Grown Exponentially ......................... ....... 301 B. Most Alleged Misappropriators Are Someone the Trade Secret Owner Knows-Either an Employee or a Business Partner.......... 302 C. Trade Secrets Divide Evenly Into Two Types: Internal Business Information and Technical Information ......................... 304 D. Courts Apply Statutes More Often Than Common Law, and the Substantive Law ofIllinois Is Applied the Most Often.................... 306 E. Courts in Illinois and California Are the Most Active .................... 309 F. Courts Cite the Restatement (First) of Torts with Decreasing Frequency, and Over 25% of Courts Cite Persuasive Authority.... 310 G Choice-of-Law Disputes Are Increasing .............. ..... 312 IV. WHO WINS TRADE SECRET LITIGATION, WHEN, AND WHY................... 313 A. The Who: A Trade Secret Owner & Likelihood of Success Depends in Part on Whether It Sues an Employee or Business Partner ........................... ............... 313 1. Associate, O'Melveny & Myers LLP. The authors collectively thank James Pooley, Charles Tait Graves, Josh Lerner, Mark Hall, Michael Spillner, Barton Beebe, Matthew Lynde, Timothy Pomarole, Christopher Sabis, Mark Miller, Eric Amdursky, and Luann Simmons for their comments on earlier drafts. We also thank Stacey Drucker for her assistance. This article does not purport to represent the views of O'Melveny & Myers LLP or its clients. 2. Partner, O'Melveny & Myers LLP. Mr. Snyder is Chair of the Intellectual Property and Technology Practice of O'Melveny & Myers. 3. Counsel, O'Melveny & Myers LLP. 4. Associate, O'Melveny & Myers LLP. 5. Associate, O'Melveny & Myers LLP. 291

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