In this episode of the Fairly Competing podcast, recorded on December 19, 2025, John, Ben, and Russell take a look back on some of the significant developments in trade secret and restrictive covenant law in 2025, make some predictions about what to expect in 2026, and provide some practical takeaways. The episode covers the sharp shift in … Continue reading →

In this episode, recorded on January 3, 2025, John, Ben, and Russell take a look back on some of the more significant developments in trade secret and restrictive covenant law in 2024, and try to give some insight into what to expect in 2025. We discuss the FTC’s noncompete ban, extraterritoriality of the Defend Trade … Continue reading →

Trade secret litigation is expensive. But oftentimes trade secret owners do not have the resources to pay for litigation necessary to protect their rights. Enter: litigation funding. Litigation funding can level the playing field and provide the resources necessary for the trade secret owner to enforce its rights in its trade secrets.  Join John, Ben, and Russell as they … Continue reading →

On April 23, 2024, the FTC adopted a rule to ban virtually all employee noncompetes. The rule was scheduled to go into effect on September 4, 2024. But 15 days before – on August 20, 2024 – the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas vacated the rule. Companies and employees have … Continue reading →

On April 23, 2024, the FTC adopted a rule that bans virtually all employee noncompetes. The rule is scheduled to go into effect on September 4, 2024. If that happens, how will companies protect their trade secrets, confidential information, customer goodwill, and the integrity of their workforce? Join John, Ben, and Russell for a discussion … Continue reading →

On January 1, 2024, California will officially begin exporting its ban on noncompetes, nonsolicits, broad confidentiality agreements, and likely no-recruits to the rest of the country — whether the other states like it or not. Here’s what happened: This fall (in September and October), California passed two laws that together will: (1) expand the scope … Continue reading →

In 2016, Congress passed the Defend Trade Secrets Act (the “DTSA”). The vote was unanimous in the Senate and 410:2 in the House. President Obama signed it on May 11, 2016. Codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1836, et seq., the DTSA created a federal private right of action for trade secret owners to sue for the … Continue reading →

The FTC’s proposed ban on noncompete agreements (and other “de facto” noncompetes) relies in large part of the research of University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business Professor Evan Starr — one of the leading scholars in the field. Join John, Ben, and Russell as they talk with Professor Starr about the strengths … Continue reading →

The FTC just proposed a ban on noncompetes with virtually no exceptions. And, they have placed nondisclosure agreements and other restrictive covenants squarely in the crosshairs. Join John, Ben, and Russell as they take a look at the FTC’s proposed ban on noncompetes, how we got here, what the proposed rule would do and when, … Continue reading →

Happy Holidays! Join John, Ben, and Russell as they take a look back on some of the more significant developments in trade secret and restrictive covenant law from the past year and what to be expecting in the coming year. They discuss recent criminal prosecutions for use of no-poach agreements, legislative changes to state noncompete … Continue reading →