Protect your business from staff who may steal intellectual property

How to protect your business from departing staff set on stealing from you

The Australian Financial Review, on 15 October 2010, published a very helpful and insightful article called “Bosses’ Byte Back to Protect Secrets”. The article noted that the increased availability of USB memory sticks and mobile electronic storage devices (including IPODS, smart phones and portable hard drives) made it easier for employees to “steal” intellectual property, data and information and this is particularly more prevalent at or about the time that the worker resigns their employment.

One of the leading authorities quoted in the course of this article was Mr Warren Mallard, Managing Director of Lyonswood Investigations and Forensics. His firm, which provides Fraud investigation services through the clever use of IT “data mining”, can forensically acquire the data from a computer hard disk and conclusively prove whether or not an employee has downloaded data from a computer or server.

The article also noted the use of Anton Piller and Mareva Orders now known as “Search” and “Freezing” orders where helpful in the process of finding and freezing the proceeds of these thefts.

Written by Mark Streeter

The Director of Streeterlaw, Mark has been practicing Law since 1994. He has attained his Masters of Law in 1999 and in 2006 was awarded his Specialist Accreditation in Commercial Litigation. Mark is a member of ARITA, a graduate of the AICD and a member of AICM. A member of STEP, Mark enjoys working in the area of Wills and Estates. In 2020 Mark is the Chair of STEP NSW.

Call us on 02 8197 0105 to book an appointment with Mark Streeter!