§ 1832

Theft of trade secrets

Up to 10 years Property Crimes 6 sentenced (FY2025) Ch. 90 · Protection of Trade Secrets

Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term

(a) Whoever, with intent to convert a trade secret, that is related to a product or service used in or intended for use in , to the economic benefit of anyone other than the owner thereof, and intending or knowing that the offense will, injure any owner of that trade secret, knowingly—

(1) steals, or without authorization appropriates, takes, carries away, or conceals, or by fraud, artifice, or deception obtains such information;

(2) without authorization copies, duplicates, sketches, draws, photographs, downloads, uploads, alters, destroys, photocopies, replicates, transmits, delivers, sends, mails, communicates, or conveys such information;

(3) receives, buys, or possesses such information, knowing the same to have been stolen or appropriated, obtained, or converted without authorization;

(4) to commit any offense described in paragraphs (1) through (3); or

(5) with one or more other persons to commit any offense described in paragraphs (1) through (3), and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the ,

shall, except as provided in subsection (b), be or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(b) Any organization that commits any offense described in subsection (a) shall be fined not more than the greater of $5,000,000 or 3 times the value of the stolen trade secret to the organization, including expenses for research and design and other costs of reproducing the trade secret that the organization has thereby avoided.

History: (Added Pub. L. 104–294, title I, §101(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3489; amended Pub. L. 112–236, §2, Dec. 28, 2012, 126 Stat. 1627; Pub. L. 114–153, §3(a)(1), May 11, 2016, 130 Stat. 382.)

Simplified explanation

It is a federal crime to steal, copy, send, receive, or possess someone's trade secret (valuable confidential business information) without permission, to benefit someone other than the owner. The secret must relate to a product or service in interstate or international commerce. Attempts and conspiracies are also covered.