Jerry F. Barbanel and Bruce W. Pixley

Theft of intellectual property results in American corporations losing more than $250 billion annually.1 The perpetrators of such crimes range from hackers and disgruntled employees trying to make some extra money to former employees who take highly guarded intellectual property and trade secrets to their new companies.

With the significant role that computers often play in intellectual property and trade secret thefts, computer forensics has become a critical component in piecing together the facts needed for a successful investigation or potential litigation. When a company suspects that its intellectual property or trade secrets have been stolen, the primary concern should be ensuring proper collection and preservation of evidence. In such situations, companies need to retain a computer forensic specialist familiar with the latest techniques used to analyze digital evidence and experienced in providing expert testimony.