By Robert Milligan and Joshua Salinas A California federal jury convicted a San Francisco executive recruiter this week for violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) and theft of trade secrets from his former employer. The conviction represents a significant landmark in the closely watched eight-year case that deepened a federal circuit court… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: Ninth Circuit
Recent California Federal Court Rulings Muddy the Interpretation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Posted in Computer Fraud and Abuse ActDoes the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) prohibit hacking–improperly gaining entrance into a computer system–or simply prohibit improper use of a computer system? U.S. Courts of Appeal are divided. Now, district and appellate court judges in a single federal case pending in the Northern District of California, U.S. v. Nosal, have produced several divergent… Continue Reading
Ninth Circuit Hears Oral Argument in Rival Toy Makers’ Trade Secrets Dispute
Posted in Trade SecretsTwo rival toy makers engrossed in an eight-year battle over the Bratz doll line have once again taken their fight to the Ninth Circuit. This week, a Ninth Circuit panel consisting of Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, Judge Kim Wardlaw, and Judge Stephen Trott, heard oral argument concerning an award of more than $310 million in… Continue Reading
United States v. Nosal Update: Solicitor General and DOJ Still Deciding Whether To File Writ Of Certiorari With United States Supreme Court
Posted in Computer Fraud, Computer Fraud and Abuse ActAccording to a recent filing with the California federal district court in the United States v. Nosal case, the Solicitor General, in consultation with the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office, is still deciding whether to file a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. The writ… Continue Reading
Waiting On Nosal…Combating Data Theft Under The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act In The Ninth Circuit
Posted in Computer Fraud, Computer Fraud and Abuse ActBy Robert Milligan and Jeffrey Oh A recent California federal court decision has permitted an employer to pursue a former employee for alleged violations of the employer’s computer usage policies under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”), while an en banc Ninth Circuit panel considers the validity of such claims. The Ninth Circuit’s decision in the United States… Continue Reading
Key Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Case Heard By Ninth Circuit En Banc Panel: Can Rogue Employees Be Held Liable For Data Theft Under The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act?
Posted in Computer Fraud and Abuse ActBy Robert Milligan The Ninth Circuit held oral argument on the key United States v. Nosal case yesterday before an en banc panel. The Court has made the oral argument available on-line. At stake is whether the government can maintain criminal charges and an employer can maintain a civil cause of action under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act against… Continue Reading
Dead Again? Use of Computer Fraud and Abuse Act By Employers To Combat Employee Data Theft Limited By Ninth Circuit’s Latest Ruling
Posted in Computer Fraud and Abuse ActThe Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that U.S. v. Nosal be reheard en banc by all of the Appeals Court judges and that the “three-judge panel opinion [in U.S. v. Nosal, 642 F.3d 781 (9th Cir. 2011)] shall not be cited as precedent by or to any court of the Ninth Circuit.” Accordingly, the ability of employers… Continue Reading
The Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act is Back in Play for Employer Suits Against Dishonest Employees in the Ninth Circuit
Posted in Computer Fraud and Abuse ActBy Scott Schaefers and Robert Milligan On April 28, 2011, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held in an important decision upholding legal protections for employer data that employees may be held liable under the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. 1030 et seq.) in cases where employees steal or remove electronic files or data in violation of their… Continue Reading
Brekka decision continues to get press attention
Posted in Computer Fraud and Abuse ActAmy E. Bivins recently published another article in the Daily Labor Report addressing the effects of the Ninth Circuit’s Brekka decision, which we have posted about previously. Ms. Bivins quotes Seyfarth attorney Carolyn Sieve on the issue. Carolyn reminded employers that they "should not rely solely on a potential CFAA claim to protect their proprietary… Continue Reading