Maryland
How E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Christopher applies in Maryland: state-specific rules, key cases, and bar exam notes for Trade Secrets / Unfair Competition.
Maryland follows the restatement on trade secrets, emphasizing the importance of maintaining secrecy and the reasonable measures required to protect such information. Courts will assess whether the information is indeed a trade secret and consider the extent to which the secret was disclosed or discovered.
Maryland law protects trade secrets under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, requiring that the trade secret is secret, has economic value, and is subject to reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy.
The court affirmed that the plaintiff had taken reasonable precautions to protect its trade secrets, and the unauthorized acquisition and use constituted misappropriation.
Held that improper means of acquiring trade secrets, such as breaching confidentiality agreements, can lead to liability for unfair competition.
Determined that the dissemination of trade secrets to direct competitors constituted a breach of duty and unfair competition.
Maryland's approach to trade secrets aligns closely with the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act but focuses more on state-specific interpretations. Maryland law emphasizes the 'reasonable efforts' standard to protect trade secrets, which may differ slightly from the broader federal definitions.
Maryland bar exam often tests on trade secrets, requiring knowledge of both statutory and case law as it relates to the protection of commercial interests.