#tradesecrets

My expectations going into this book were hopeful but low, and lemme tell you, I was taken by total surprise by how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I devoured @bettsican’s words, finishing the book in two days and I can’t wait for the sequels.

Trade Secrets is if Carry On (minus the magic) met 1984 and punched it in the face, then followed it up with a kiss. 

Switching back and forth between the years 2079 and 2080, the novel tells the tale of Nate Donovan’s struggle with an oppressive government that provide paradise to the rich and squalor to the poor. To make matter worse and more convoluted, currency has shifted from money to truths and secrets. Then Nate meets Cooper Hall, a young man he was never supposed to know, and the truths Cooper unwittingly shares bring Nate into the government’s biggest conspiracy.

Nate Donovan is a bisexual chaotic disaster whose narration is both poetic and gritty. He has a distinct voice that gives Trade Secrets its particular brand of sarcastic noir brilliance. The cast of characters who surround Nate hold their own; they’re the most strong, smart, layered, genuine dumbasses you’ll ever meet. Cooper Hall only wants to disappear, but there’s nothing like a handsome know-it-all to ruin your life. Audrey can smell bullshit from a mile away and it usually leads her back to Nate. Ivonne and Joshua King aren’t always what they seem...neither is the rest of the King clan.

I could go on about the different excellent uses of craft and words, but I think your time would better spent reading Trade Secrets, so go do that.

🚨 Major Trade Secrets Case Back in the Spotlight 🚨

A U.S. appeals court has revived $82.2 million of a verdict against Ford in a major dispute involving trade secrets and software licensing with Versata Software.

The Federal Circuit ruled that the jury had calculated breach-of-contract damages with “reasonable certainty,” restoring a large portion of the original $104.6 million verdict.

📌 What the case is about: • Software licensing agreements • Trade secret misappropriation • Automotive collaboration technology • Intellectual property enforcement

Versata alleged that Ford copied its automotive software after years of licensing the technology for global vehicle collaboration and design operations.

⚖️ Why this matters: As industries become more software-driven, companies are facing growing legal and financial risks tied to: ✔️ Proprietary software ✔️ Licensing compliance ✔️ Trade secret protection ✔️ IP strategy and enforcement

This case highlights how valuable intellectual property has become in the automotive and technology sectors.

📌 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐏 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐏 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞:

Gideon Korrell Explores Anti-SLAPP Protection in the IQE v. Newport Fab Ruling

🚨 US Judge Dismisses xAI Trade-Secrets Lawsuit Against OpenAI… For Now

The AI race just took another legal turn.

A California federal judge has dismissed xAI’s lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets, stating that xAI failed to show any misconduct by OpenAI.

📌 Key developments: • xAI can refile the case by March 17 • The current decision pauses the claims against OpenAI • xAI is still pursuing a separate lawsuit against a former engineer • OpenAI called the lawsuit “baseless” and part of a harassment campaign

⚖️ Why this matters As AI competition intensifies, the battleground is expanding beyond innovation labs into courtrooms. Trade secrets, data control, and IP governance are quickly becoming the defining issues of the AI era.

For startups, researchers, and tech companies, this is a reminder: Protecting innovation isn’t optional — it’s strategic.

Patent Attorney Tips: Protecting Trade Secrets Alongside Patents Read Now: https://www.ipconsultinggroups.com/blogs/patent-attorney-tips-protecting-trade-secrets-patents

Not every innovation should be patented. Some of the most valuable business assets are better protected as trade secrets.

A skilled patent attorney helps you balance what to disclose and what to keep confidential — ensuring patents protect the invention, while trade secrets protect the competitive edge.

Build an IP strategy that protects both.

🚨 AI Espionage Verdict: Ex-Google Engineer Convicted 🚨

A former Google software engineer, Linwei Ding (also known as Leon Ding), has been convicted in the United States for stealing high-value AI trade secrets to benefit Chinese technology companies he was secretly working with.

According to prosecutors, Ding stole thousands of pages of confidential AI infrastructure data, including information tied to Google’s supercomputing systems used to train large-scale AI models. Some of the designs were reportedly intended to give Google a competitive edge over cloud and AI rivals such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

⚖️ The charges include: – 7 counts of economic espionage – 7 counts of theft of trade secrets – Each espionage charge carries up to 15 years in prison and $5 million in fines

The case was coordinated through the U.S. government’s Disruptive Technology Strike Force, underscoring growing global concerns around AI security, national interests, and intellectual property theft.

🔍 Why this matters: As artificial intelligence becomes one of the most valuable strategic assets in the world, protecting trade secrets and ensuring compliance is no longer optional—it’s essential.

🚨 Media Industry Legal Showdown 🚨

Maxim vs. Playboy: Alleged Copycat Competition Battle

Maxim has taken legal action against Playboy in Manhattan federal court, accusing the brand of copying its long-running “Cover Girl” competition.

According to the lawsuit, Maxim claims Playboy misappropriated trade secrets, proprietary technology, and copyrighted materials to create its “Great Playmate Search.” The complaint further alleges that Playboy employees signed up as “dummy” participants in Maxim’s contest to study and replicate the platform’s design, rules, and mechanics.

Why this matters: Since 2018, Maxim’s Cover Girl competition has been a key brand and revenue driver. The case raises broader questions about digital competition platforms, reverse engineering, and intellectual property protection in the modern media landscape—especially as paid online voting becomes a multimillion-dollar business model.

Maxim is seeking a court order to block any further misuse of its trade secrets, along with monetary damages.