Legal Question in Technology Law in New Jersey
Trade secrets
When I left my previous job, I copied their computer programs and took them to my home. Now I want to return them to my previous employer.
1) What potential charges can they file againt me? theft of trade secret? Unauthorized usage of corporate propriatary information? I want to get them sign a waiver not to charge me before returning the information back to them. Will a waiver be enough? And what details should I pay attention to?
2) I also reverse engineered some of the trade secret from those propritary material. Does those reverse-engineered material belong to the company or can I keep them?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Trade secrets
I'm not sure why you would want to return them. You didn't take the only copy. I also don't think a waiver would go very far with regard to criminal charges. You cannot bind the State or in this case, the Government to an agreement that they were not a party to. I suggest meeting with an attorney to work out exactly what you will do and on what terms.
Good luck!