By: Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- A Mississippi judge has dismissed a $1 billion trade secrets lawsuit filed by power management company Eaton Corp. against a rival, Frisby Aerospace.

In dismissing the lawsuit, Hinds County Circuit Judge Swan Yerger ruled that Eaton knew about and sanctioned secret actions that attorney Ed Peters took to influence another judge, according to The Clarion-Ledger newspaper.

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By: Edvard Pettersson
BUSINESSWEEK

Mattel Inc. can't pursue copyright- infringement claims against MGA Entertainment Inc.'s Bratz dolls other than the first four, introduced in 2001, and two later models, a federal judge said.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, in a Dec. 27 order, granted a request by closely held MGA to preclude Mattel from seeking infringement damages "against all subsequent generation Bratz dolls with the exception of Ooh La La Cloe and Formal Funk Dana." Carter allowed Mattel to proceed with most of its trade- secret theft claims at a trial scheduled to start Jan. 11.

By: Chris Tighe

Snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures all over the northern hemisphere - it is a great winter for Kilfrost. One-third of the de-icing and anti-icing fluids that aircraft worldwide must use to fly safely in cold weather are made by this small, privately owned family business. The trade-secret ingredients that have made Kilfrost a renowned brand with sales to more than 50 countries in five continents - "the magic pixie dust" as Gary Lydiate, chief executive, describes this crucial intellectual property - are made solely in a riverside factory at the end of a country lane in the peaceful Northumberland town of Haltwhistle.

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By: David Yates

Southeast Texas EMS has filed suit against Cindy Bridges, a former manager who allegedly quit and formed her own ambulance service by stealing trade secrets.

Court records show Bridges managed Southeast Texas EMS for eight years and was trusted with all the company's trade secrets, including medical providers, pricing information and marketing strategies.

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By: Jackson Chang and Frances Huang

Taiwan-based IC designer MediaTek Inc. said Wednesday it will appeal a ruling handed down by a district court in Taipei on a trade secret leak case filed by the company against a former employee.

In a verdict issued Monday, the Taipei District Court sentenced a former MediaTek employee surnamed Yang to nine months in prison that could be commuted to a fine of NT$270,000 (US$9,225) for leaking information to a MediaTek competitor.

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By Caroline Dobson
Epoch Times Staff

Renault SA, France's second-largest automaker, is having a rocky start to 2011, after detecting international industrial espionage in its operations.

A company statement said this case was "misconduct that infringes Renault's ethics, [and] consciously and deliberately [endangered] the company's assets."

After a five-month investigation, three senior managers have been suspended due to their alleged involvement in the leaking of strategic information regarding electric cars and Renault's future plans to an international spy network.

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By DAN SHINGLER

A lawsuit Eaton filed against a competitor over stolen trade secrets was thrown out last month by a Mississippi circuit court that said the company allowed its attorney to influence a judge improperly. The outcome leaves Eaton preparing to appeal the ruling before the Mississippi Supreme Court in the hope that it can re-file its case.

Eaton spokesman Gary Klasen said last week the company could not comment on estimates by legal observers that the lawsuit might have been worth as much as $1 billion to the company had a ruling been made in its favor. Eaton did not ask for a specific dollar amount in its suit.

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By Marilynn Marchione

It would be easier to gauge the current medical problems of Apple CEO Steve Jobs if he had said more about the ones he has faced in the past.

Jobs, who turns 56 next month, said Monday that he would take a third leave of absence -- he didn't say how long -- to focus on his health. It may not be as serious as many fear, but coming from a man who has had cancer and a liver transplant, the lack of detail is causing concern.

Jobs had a neuroendocrine tumour removed in 2004 -- a rare and very treatable form of pancreatic cancer -- but never said if it had spread to lymph nodes or how extensive his surgery was.

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By Edvard Pettersson

Mattel Inc., the maker of Barbie, accused rival toymaker MGA Entertainment Inc. of stealing the idea for the pouty, multiethnic Bratz doll in 2000 when it made a deal with the designer who Mattel said worked for them when he made the initial sketches for the doll.

Mattel is seeking damages for copyright infringement and trade-secret theft from closely held MGA, which in turn will ask the jury to hold Mattel liable for unfair competition and stealing its trade secrets.

The case returned to court after a $100 million verdict in favor of Mattel was overturned on appeal. MGA said in court filings that Mattel may seek as much as $1.1 billion in damages for its trade-secret claims.

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