For companies that invent, manufacture, or supply original technologies or processes, protection of that intellectual property must always be front of mind. This series of articles will explore protections for trade secrets under New Jersey law and federal law, and new issues and nuances for achieving maximum protection that emerged during the COVID-19 global pandemic. This first article of the series focuses on protecting trade secrets under New Jersey law. 

Trade Secrets in New Jersey

The New Jersey Trade Secrets Act (NJTSA), N.J.S.A. 56:15-1, et seq., signed into law by Governor Chris Christie on Jan. 9, 2012, is modeled after the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. In enacting the NJTSA, New Jersey became the 47th state to adopt a version of this uniform legislation. New Jersey modified the uniform act “to reflect th[e] State’s common law trade secret jurisprudence.” Cmt. to Assembly Bill No. 921, 2011 N.J. Laws c. 161. These statutory protections apply to all trade secret claims arising on or after Jan. 9, 2012.