CHAPTER 3. TRADE SECRETS

IC 24-2-3
     Chapter 3. Trade Secrets

IC 24-2-3-1
Short title; construction; purpose
    
Sec. 1. (a) This chapter may be cited as the Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
    (b) This chapter shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject matter of this chapter among states enacting the provisions of this chapter.
    (c) The chapter displaces all conflicting law of this state pertaining to the misappropriation of trade secrets, except contract law and criminal law.
As added by Acts 1982, P.L.148, SEC.1.

IC 24-2-3-2
Definitions
    
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
    "Improper means" includes theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy, or espionage through electronic or other means.
    "Misappropriation" means:
        (1) acquisition of a trade secret of another by a person who knows or has reason to know that the trade secret was acquired by improper means; or
        (2) disclosure or use of a trade secret of another without express or implied consent by a person who:
            (A) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret;
            (B) at the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that his knowledge of the trade secret was:
                (i) derived from or through a person who had utilized improper means to acquire it;
                (ii) acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or
                (iii) derived from or through a person who owed a duty to the person seeking relief to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or
            (C) before a material change of his position, knew or had reason to know that it was a trade secret and that knowledge of it had been acquired by accident or mistake.
    "Person" means a natural person, limited liability company, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal or commercial entity.
    "Trade secret" means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that:
        (1) derives independent economic value, actual or potential,

from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and
        (2) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
As added by Acts 1982, P.L.148, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.8-1993, SEC.343.

IC 24-2-3-3
Injunction against misappropriation; exceptional circumstances
    
Sec. 3. (a) Actual or threatened misappropriation may be enjoined. Upon application to the court, an injunction shall be terminated when the trade secret has ceased to exist, but the injunction may be continued for an additional reasonable period of time in order to eliminate commercial advantage that otherwise would be derived from the misappropriation.
    (b) If the court determines in exceptional circumstances that it would be unreasonable to prohibit future use, an injunction may condition future use upon payment of a reasonable royalty for no longer than the period of time the use could have been prohibited.
    (c) In appropriate circumstances, affirmative acts to protect a trade secret may be compelled by court order.
As added by Acts 1982, P.L.148, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.50-1984, SEC.3.

IC 24-2-3-4
Damages for misappropriation and unjust enrichment; royalty; exemplary damages
    
Sec. 4. (a) In addition to or in lieu of injunctive relief, a complainant may recover damages for the actual loss caused by misappropriation. A complainant also may recover for the unjust enrichment caused by misappropriation that is not taken into account in computing damages for actual loss.
    (b) When neither damages nor unjust enrichment are provable, the court may order payment of a reasonable royalty for no longer than the period during which the use could have been prohibited.
    (c) If willful and malicious misappropriation exists, the court may award exemplary damages in an amount not exceeding twice any award made under subsection (a).
As added by Acts 1982, P.L.148, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.50-1984, SEC.4.

IC 24-2-3-5
Attorney's fees; conditions
    
Sec. 5. If:
        (1) a claim of misappropriation is made in bad faith;
        (2) a motion to terminate an injunction is made or resisted in bad faith; or
        (3) willful and malicious misappropriation exists;
the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing

party.
As added by Acts 1982, P.L.148, SEC.1.

IC 24-2-3-6
Preservation of secrecy of trade secret
    
Sec. 6. In an action under this chapter, a court shall preserve the secrecy of an alleged trade secret by reasonable means, which may include granting protective orders in connection with discovery proceedings, holding in-camera hearings, sealing the records of the action, and ordering any person involved in the litigation not to disclose an alleged trade secret without prior court approval.
As added by Acts 1982, P.L.148, SEC.1.

IC 24-2-3-7
Limitation of action
    
Sec. 7. An action for misappropriation must be brought within three (3) years after the misappropriation is discovered or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been discovered. For the purposes of this section, a continuing misappropriation constitutes a single claim.
As added by Acts 1982, P.L.148, SEC.1.

IC 24-2-3-8
Continuing misappropriation commenced before September 1, 1982
    
Sec. 8. If a continuing misappropriation otherwise covered by this chapter began before September 1, 1982, the chapter does not apply to the part of the misappropriation that occured before that date. It does apply to the part that occurs after August 31, 1982, unless the appropriation was not a misappropriation under the law displaced by this chapter.
As added by Acts 1982, P.L.148, SEC.1.