Statement from Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Michelle K. Lee following House passage of the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016:
“For many companies and industries, trade secrets are a critical element of their overall business strategy, valuable only when that ‘secret sauce’ doesn’t get into the wrong hands. Innovators, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs of all types will benefit greatly from a civil cause of action at the federal courts– providing a more uniform way to take action and stronger tools to prevent the transit of trade secrets out of the country. We applaud today’s bipartisan action, as it builds on the Administration’s unwavering commitment to arm businesses with a robust suite of intellectual property resources, vital to remaining competitive in a global and digital economy.”