The Defend Trade Secrets Act Isn't an 'Intellectual Property' Law

Santa Clara High Tech Law Journal, Vol. 33, pages 541-551, 2017

Santa Clara Univ. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 5-17

12 Pages Posted: 1 Mar 2017 Last revised: 19 Sep 2017

See all articles by Eric Goldman

Eric Goldman

Santa Clara University - School of Law

Date Written: April 1, 2017

Abstract

Congress’ passage of the Defend Trade Secret Act is one of the most important developments in intellectual property law over the past decade, yet counterintuitively the statute expressly says it is not an intellectual property law. This apparent paradox should successfully preserve a legal quirk in the law governing liability for user-generated content online. However, Congress’ solution affects over 200 other federal statutes. Fortunately, the implications for those other laws appear to be mostly inconsequential (we hope).

Keywords: defend trade secrets act, DTSA, trade secrets, intellectual property, 47 USC 230, CDA

JEL Classification: O3, K20

Suggested Citation

Goldman, Eric, The Defend Trade Secrets Act Isn't an 'Intellectual Property' Law (April 1, 2017). Santa Clara High Tech Law Journal, Vol. 33, pages 541-551, 2017, Santa Clara Univ. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 5-17, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2924827

Eric Goldman (Contact Author)

Santa Clara University - School of Law ( email )

500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
United States
408-554-4369 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.ericgoldman.org

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