Bill > H1195

This bill, titled "To protect intellectual property and trade secrets to promote economic development and job creation," aims to modernize and strengthen protections for trade secrets by adopting the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, which defines key terms like "improper means" (including theft or bribery), "misappropriation" (unauthorized acquisition or disclosure of a trade secret), and "trade secret" itself as valuable, non-public information that is subject to reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy. The bill would repeal existing laws on trade secrets and insert this new chapter, allowing for injunctions to prevent or stop misappropriation, and enabling courts to award damages, including exemplary damages for willful and malicious violations, and attorney's fees to the prevailing party. It also establishes a three-year statute of limitations for bringing misappropriation claims and includes provisions for protecting sensitive information during legal proceedings. Additionally, the bill amends Chapter 149 of the General Laws to declare void and unenforceable any contract or agreement that prohibits, restricts, or conditions an individual's ability to seek or accept future employment or independent contractor work after an employment relationship ends, while preserving other contractual or tort claims.