United States: Trade Secrets

A Massachusetts federal court granted summary judgment to Alexion Pharmaceuticals, dismissing Amyndas Pharmaceuticals' Chapter 93A unfair competition claim based on alleged misuse of confidential information during partnership negotiations. The decision rigorously enforces causation requirements and clarifies the boundaries between trade secret protection and legitimate competitive activity in pharmaceutical business development.

The FBI warns that foreign intelligence operations have evolved beyond traditional espionage tactics, now leveraging AI-generated personas and virtual recruitment schemes to target US companies and steal intellectual property. As adversaries increasingly use sophisticated technology to infiltrate sensitive industries—from advanced tech sectors to agriculture—businesses face mounting pressure to strengthen trade secret protections and employee awareness programs.

The U.S. International Trade Commission has proposed rule changes requiring disclosure of ownership and third-party litigation funding interests in Section 337 patent investigations.