Jan. 30, 2026
Boom times for trade secret cases and antitrust settlements
Federal trade secrets lawsuits surged to record highs in 2025 -- and $70 billion in class action settlements, fueled by a blockbuster credit card case, made it a banner year for plaintiffs all around.
Federal trade secrets misappropriation complaints and the top 10 antitrust settlements both soared in 2025.
Claims under the Defend Trade Secrets Act spiked by more than 20% while state claims filed in federal courts rebounded as well.
In California, trade secret lawsuits in federal court rose from 120 to 208, a 73% increase from 2024.
The data, compiled by Lex Machina, raise questions about what is driving the increase. Adam Masarek, the company's legal mar...
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