Attorney General Lockyer Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Law Protecting Trade Secrets

August 25, 2003
03-101
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(916) 324-5500

(SACRAMENTO) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today released the following statement regarding the California Supreme Court's ruling in DVD Copy Control Association Inc., v. Andrew Bunner. The Attorney General appeared before the Supreme Court on May 29 to personally argue the case as a friend of the court.

"This ruling makes it clear that the First Amendment may not be used as a shield for the blatant piracy and theft of trade secrets and digital control. In its reasoned ruling, the court recognized the devastating impact that widespread piracy could have on the state's motion picture and high-technology industries. This will protect businesses that have relied on the Uniform Trade Secrets Act for 150 years from criminals who today steal computer codes and other intellectual material and post it on the Internet for instantaneous dissemination around the world."