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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58508</law_id><section_number>59.1-338</section_number><catch_line>Damages</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-5506</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 id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except where the user of a misappropriated <span class="dictionary">trade secret</span> has made a <span class="dictionary">material</span> and prejudicial change in his position prior to having either knowledge or reason to know of the misappropriation and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> determines that a monetary recovery would be inequitable, a complainant is entitled to recover <span class="dictionary">damages</span> for misappropriation. <span class="dictionary">Damages</span> can include both the actual loss caused by misappropriation and the unjust enrichment caused by misappropriation that is not taken into account in computing actual loss. If a complainant is unable to prove a greater amount of <span class="dictionary">damages</span> by other methods of measurement, the <span class="dictionary">damages</span> caused by misappropriation can be measured exclusively by imposition of liability for a reasonable royalty for a misappropriator&#x2019;s unauthorized disclosure or use of a <span class="dictionary">trade secret</span>. <a id="paragraph-214426" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-338/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If willful and <span class="dictionary">malicious</span> misappropriation exists, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may award punitive <span class="dictionary">damages</span> in an amount not exceeding twice any award made under subsection A of this section, or $350,000 whichever amount is less. <a id="paragraph-214427" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-338/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1986, c. 210; 1990, c. 344.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
