
What happens when a stranger steals my trade secret?
Where a stranger was not given authorized access to your trade secret information, but acquires, uses or discloses it anyway, those actions may be misappropriation. The issue here is whether this stranger obtained your trade secret through proper or improper means. If the information was obtained through proper means, then they are entitled to use or disclose the information however they see fit, and you have no enforceable right against them. However, if the information was obtained through improper means, they have committed misappropriation.