Trade Secret Claims

Microsoft Releases 14,000 Pages Of Trade Secrets

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207100353

On 4/8/08, Microsoft released trade secrets regarding its Office 2007, SharePoint Server 2007, and Server Exchange 2007 on a website. Much of the information includes how the software communicates with other parts of the Microsoft software. This is just the beginning of the information they are going to release. There are plans to release more information about their SQL Server in June. Still with releasing this information, Microsoft still has patents on their information so they are still charge licensing fees to commercial developers.

This story is all about Microsoft releasing a lot of information on their trade secrets to the public. Instead of people having to try and break the code and figure it out for themsleves, Microsoft did all the work for them, but Microsoft is still protected though because they still have patents on most of thier information so they can still get royalties from programmers that decide to use their code.

Green laws hide too much

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=d9530261-008a-44ff-b36e-2695ef783234

Right now in Canada there are two bills are trying to be passed to help make British Columbia the world leader against global warming. The bill would include lower emission standards and using greener fuels. The problem is that businesses would have to give up a lot of their proprietary information about their products and building processes which would include the companies' trade secrets. The businesses are worried that their secrets could be leaked and they would lose their competitive advantage and thier profits along with it.

This is all about a company's right to keep their trade secrets secret. They would be forced to give the government thier information and they just want to make sure that they do not hurt their company in doing so.

Allstate is faced with 3rd inquiry

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080410/NEWS/804100502/1661

Allstate was forced to give up over 160,000 pages of information to the Florida Senate building for an investigation for charging their customers more than necessary after the government pledged money to help those in need after the hurricane disaster. All gave up their customer list which would be considered their trade secret. Allstate gave up all the information asked for but believes it is way more than is necessary.