Economic Espionage Act

Introduced on June 26, 1996, this law amends the Federal criminal code to penalty any person or organization that steals, copies, receives or buys trade secrets for the benefit of anyone but the owner. Also, if one plans or attempts to commit such acts, they are subject to penalties.

A trade secret is a business' confidential information which gives them an economic advantage over their competition. It can be a design, process, formula or any information that is not easily attained (and in fact, illegal to attain based on this law).

For a more detailed summary of this law, go here.

Rep. Bill McCollum

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104hr3723enr/pdf/BILLS-104hr3723enr.pdf