As used in this Act, unless the context requires otherwise:
     (a) “Improper means” includes theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a confidential relationship or other duty to maintain secrecy or limit use, or espionage through electronic or other means. Reverse engineering or independent development shall not be considered improper means.

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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 765 ILCS 1065/2

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.

     (b) “Misappropriation” means:
     (1) acquisition of a trade secret of a person by another person who knows or has reason to know that the trade secret was acquired by improper means; or
     (2) disclosure or use of a trade secret of a person without express or implied consent by another person who:
     (A) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret; or
     (B) at the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that knowledge of the trade secret was:
     (I) derived from or through a person who utilized improper means to acquire it;
     (II) acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or
     (III) derived from or through a person who owed a duty to the person seeking relief to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or
     (C) before a material change of position, knew or had reason to know that it was a trade secret and that knowledge of it had been acquired by accident or mistake.
     (c) “Person” means a natural person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other for-profit or not-for-profit legal entity.
     (d) “Trade secret” means information, including but not limited to, technical or non-technical data, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, drawing, process, financial data, or list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, that:
     (1) is sufficiently secret to derive economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and
     (2) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy or confidentiality.