§ 3930 — Theft of trade secrets

Pennsylvania § 3930

• Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
• Title 18: CRIMES AND OFFENSES
• Part: PART II
• Ch. 39: THEFT AND RELATED OFFENSES
• Subch.: DEFINITION OF OFFENSES

Text

(a) Felony of the second degree.--A person is guilty of a felony of the second degree if he:

(1) by force or violence or by putting him in fear takes from the person of another any article representing a trade secret;

(2) willfully and maliciously enters any building or other structure with intent to obtain unlawful possession of, or access to, an article representing a trade secret; or

(3) willfully and maliciously accesses any computer, computer network or computer system, whether in person or electronically, with the intent to obtain unlawful possession of, or access to, an article representing a trade secret.

(b) Felony of the third degree.--A person is guilty of a felony of the third degree if he, with intent to wrongfully deprive of, or withhold from the owner, the control of a trade secret, or with intent to wrongfully appropriate a trade secret for his use, or for the use of another:

(1) unlawfully obtains possession of, or access to, an article representing a trade secret; or

(2) having lawfully obtained possession of an article representing a trade secret, or access thereto, converts such article to his own use or that of another person, while having possession thereof or access thereto makes, or causes to be made, a copy of such article, or exhibits such article to another.

(c) Further disposition irrelevant.--The crime or crimes defined in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be deemed complete without regard to the further disposition, return, or intent to return, of the article representing a trade secret.

(d) Defense.--It shall be a complete defense to any prosecution under subsection (b) of this section for the defendant to show that information comprising the trade secret was rightfully known or available to him from a source other than the owner of the trade secret.

(e) Definitions.--As used in this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"Article." Any object, material, device or substance or copy thereof, including any writing, record, recording, drawing, description, sample, specimen, prototype, model, photograph, microorganism, blueprint or map.

"Computer." An electronic, magnetic, optical, hydraulic, organic or other high-speed data processing device or system which performs logic, arithmetic or memory functions and includes all input, output, processing, storage, software or communication facilities which are connected or related to the device in a system or network.

"Computer network." The interconnection of two or more computers through the usage of satellite, microwave, line or other communication medium.

"Computer system." A set of related, connected or unconnected computer equipment, devices and software.

"Copy." Any facsimile, replica, photograph or reproduction of, an article, or any note, drawing, sketch, or description made of, or from an article.

"Representing." Describing, depicting, containing, constituting, reflecting or recording.

"Trade secret." The whole or any portion or phase of any scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula or improvement which is of value and has been specifically identified by the owner as of a confidential character, and which has not been published or otherwise become a matter of general public knowledge. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that scientific or technical information has not been published or otherwise become a matter of general public knowledge when the owner thereof takes measures to prevent it from becoming available to persons other than those selected by him to have access thereto for limited purposes.

(f) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with or prohibit terms or conditions in a contract or license related to a computer, a computer network or computer software.

Legislative History

(Oct. 16, 1996, P.L.715, No.128, eff. 60 days; June 25, 1997, P.L.284, No.26, eff. 60 days; Feb. 19, 2004, P.L.143, No.14, eff. 60 days) 2004 Amendment.Section 4 of Act 14 provided that Act 14 shall not apply to misappropriation occurring prior to the effective date of Act 14, including a continuing misappropriation that began prior to the effective date of Act 14 and which continues to occur after the effective date of Act 14. Cross References.Section 3930 is referred to in section 5552 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).