Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: Misappropriation of Trade Secret

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Re: Misappropriation of Trade Secret

Generally a phone number is public information and is not considered a trade secret. A trade secret is information which is developed in the normal course of business which is proprietary and critical to the success of a business venture.

Misappropriation is the wrongful taking of property which belongs to another. There for you have to have (1) property which (2) belongs to an entity which is (3) unlawfully taken by (4) another entity.

Re: Misappropriation of Trade Secret

A phone number is not a trade secret. (At least I can't see how, unless there are some very special circumstances.) A cause of action for misappropriation requires that the information is useful or valuable and its is owned by you; that someone illegally obtained the information or through a breach of contract, as for example an employee who discloses or uses information he/she learned during employment and agreed to maintain confidentiality.