2017 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 90 - Protection of Trade Secrets
Sec. 1832 - Theft of trade secrets

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Citation 18 U.S.C. § 1832 (2017)
Section Name §1832. Theft of trade secrets
Section Text

(a) Whoever, with intent to convert a trade secret, that is related to a product or service used in or intended for use in interstate or foreign commerce, 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) attempts to commit any offense described in paragraphs (1) through (3); or

(5) conspires 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 conspiracy,


shall, except as provided in subsection (b), be fined under this title 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.

Source Credit

(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.)

Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS

2016—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–153 substituted "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" for "$5,000,000".

2012—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–236 substituted "a product or service used in or intended for use in" for "or included in a product that is produced for or placed in" in introductory provisions.

REPORT ON THEFT OF TRADE SECRETS OCCURRING ABROAD

Pub. L. 114–153, §4, May 11, 2016, 130 Stat. 382, which requires biannual reports on the theft of trade secrets of United States companies occurring outside of the United States, was editorially reclassified as section 41310 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement.

Publication Title United States Code, 2012 Edition, Supplement 5, Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 90 - PROTECTION OF TRADE SECRETS
Sec. 1832 - Theft of trade secrets
Contains section 1832
Date 2017
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 12, 2018
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 110 Stat. 3489
126 Stat. 1627
130 Stat. 382
Public Law References Public Law 104-294, Public Law 112-236, Public Law 114-153
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