INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT
Introduction
Moore et al., (2011), intellectual property (IP) refers to robbing peoples or companies’ ideas and innovation. IP theft is a common problem in competing companies. This paper explores the gives an insight into the Padgett-Beale managers on the issue of IP theft and gives the measures that the managers can use to curb IP theft in their companies.
Padgett-Beale managers should understand that intellectual property theft is a reality and especially for employees who move from their company to another. The managers should realise that their trusted employees share and expose sensitive data in the course of doing their daily jobs (RobertHamilton, 2013). Some of them take confidential information to use at their next employer; some are naïve about the issue and not malicious at all. Statistics show that half of the employees take corporate data when they leave a job and most of them (40%) use it in their new roles. This means that sensitive and valuable data if falling in the hands of competitors and rival companies (RobertHamilton, 2013).
Some of the measures that the company should take to avoid the leakage of sensitive data to the competitors are by limiting the use of personal devices such as emails, external devices and smartphones in conducting company business (Dave Burtt and Donald Closser, 2013). This will ensure that when the employee quits that particular company for another he/she does not carry essential data that they can use in the new company. Another measure is by the company should ensure the full implementation of reasonable measures to ensure confidentiality and secrecy of their sensitive data.
Dave Burtt and Donald Closser, (2013) opine that the company should implement password security measures alongside strict NDAs. They also contend that the company should train the employees on the importance of protecting intellectual property. Additionally, the company should implement tools like data loss prevention to detect and prevent IP theft which can recognise the unauthorised transfer of IP to external devices and backups.
Summary
In conclusion, IP theft is a vice committed by employees knowingly and unknowingly. Due to the increased cases of IP theft, company managers should be very vigilant to protect the IP of their particular companies. IP theft is common to employees who move from one company to another. Measures that Padgett-Beale managers can take to avoid IP theft include limiting the use of personal devices by the employees such as emails, files, USB flash cards in conducting business affairs and ensuring confidentiality of company’s sensitive data (Dave Burtt and Donald Closser 2013).
References
Dave Burtt and Donald Closser (2013). What litigation tells us about the dangers of IP theft.
Moore, A. P., Cappelli, D. M., Caron, T. C., Shaw, E., Spooner, D., & Trzeciak, R. F. (2011). A preliminary model of insider theft of intellectual property (No. MU/SEI-2011-TN-013).
RobertHamilton (2013) the “Frenemy” Within – Insider Theft of Intellectual Property.