Since 2009 BBA has hosted this symposium bringing together drafters,
sponsors, supporters and critics of state bills to reform the use of employee
non-compete agreements (ENCAs) and, separately, alternatively or
complementarily, to enact the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA).
In the second session of the 189th General Court, its two chambers passed
differing bills for ENCA reform, each including a version of UTSA, but did not
quite get over the finish line. Current bills S.840, S.988, S.1017, S.1020, H.854, H.2366, and H.2371 revisit ENCA reform
and propose a version of UTSA enhanced by the BBA over the years.
In superseding the 1939 Restatement of Torts (still used by Massachusetts)
requirement of continuous, actual use of “trade secrets,” the 1979/1985 UTSA
(adopted by 47 other States) moved from the industrial age of “secrets of trade”
to the research age of protecting valuable information not yet used or “what not
to try” as well as transitory information as commercial strategies. The
BBA enhancements include (1) some pleading specificity for protected information
and (2) direction as to what constitutes “confidential information” under
Massachusetts common law justifying ENCAs.
The federal Defend
Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“DTSA”) among other things embraced “employee
mobility” as a federal policy. DTSA injunctions may not “prevent a person
from entering into an employment relationship . . . or otherwise conflict with
an applicable State [such as California] law prohibiting restraints on the
practice of a lawful profession, trade, or business.” While DTSA expressly
does not preempt state trade secret law, it is silent about contract law, which
arguably may be affected by these prohibitions.
Please join us for a presentation and discussion of the substance of and
differences between the bills and the reasons and possible reconciliation, as
well as the role of the proposed UTSA in view of the DTSA.
Following the program, attendees are invited to join us for a
reception.
Registration Categories:
BBA-Member: Free. Included as part of your
membership.
Non-Member -
$100.00
Not a member? Join the BBA today to receive discounted rates for CLE
programs and conferences.
If the cost of this seminar would preclude you from attending, please contact
us about tuition discounts.
Refunds & Cancellations
Please note that refunds will only be
allowed for cancellation notices received at least 24 hours before the
program.
Materials: The BBA has gone digital! We are reducing our
printing of hard copy materials for accredited programs. All of our materials
are now offered in electronic format and is sent in advance to registrants via
email. Free WiFi is available in all conference rooms so you can easily have
your materials on your portable devices and laptops!
Accreditation: This program is
eligible for 2 hours of credit. The BBA is an
accredited provider in Rhode
Island. Credit is also available in New
York, through the NY Approved Jurisdiction Policy; and through
reciprocity agreements in Maine,
Vermont and
California. Please refer to the rules in each
jurisdiction for further instructions on submitting programs for CLE credit. A
Certificate of Attendance will be provided at the conclusion of the
program.