SAN FRANCISCO — Technically, U.S. v. Nosal might be a case about a former Korn/Ferry International executive’s use of his former company’s database for his own upstart head-hunting firm.

But for the jury, which began hearing opening statements Monday afternoon, the case may come down to who has the better PowerPoint rather than their understanding of the controversial and complicated 1984 law, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, or CFAA.