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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73338</law_id><section_number>59.1-336</section_number><catch_line>Short title and definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-3701</reference><reference>2.2-3705.7</reference><reference>2.2-5506</reference><reference>33.2-1820</reference><reference>38.2-1907</reference><reference>40.1-28.7:8</reference><reference>56-575.17</reference><reference>59.1-200</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="26">Uniform Trade Secrets Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, which may be cited as the Uniform <span class="dictionary">Trade Secrets</span> Act, unless the context requires otherwise:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Improper means</span>&#x201D; includes theft, bribery, misrepresentation, use of a computer or computer network without authority, breach of a duty or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy, or espionage through electronic or other means.
		&#x201C;Misappropriation&#x201D; means:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Acquisition of a <span class="dictionary">trade secret</span> of another by a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who knows or has reason to know that the <span class="dictionary">trade secret</span> was acquired by <span class="dictionary">improper means</span>; or <a id="paragraph-263917" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-336/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Disclosure or use of a <span class="dictionary">trade secret</span> of another without express or implied consent by a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who
			a. Used <span class="dictionary">improper means</span> to acquire knowledge of the <span class="dictionary">trade secret</span>; or
			b. At the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that his knowledge of the <span class="dictionary">trade secret</span> was <a id="paragraph-263918" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-336/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="21" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Derived from or through a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who had utilized <span class="dictionary">improper means</span> to acquire it; <a id="paragraph-263919" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-336/#21"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="22" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; <a id="paragraph-263920" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-336/#22"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="23" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Derived from or through a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who owed a duty to the <span class="dictionary">person</span> seeking relief to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or <a id="paragraph-263921" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-336/#23"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="24" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Acquired by accident or mistake.
				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Person</span>&#x201D; means a natural <span class="dictionary">person</span>, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal or commercial entity.
				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Trade secret</span>&#x201D; means information, including but not limited to, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that: <a id="paragraph-263922" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-336/#24"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and <a id="paragraph-263923" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-336/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. <a id="paragraph-263924" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-336/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1986, c. 210; 2009, cc. 321, 376.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
