Vibe coding is a form of AI-assisted software development in which a person describes what software should do and relies on an AI coding tool to generate and revise much of the underlying code. The user may test the software, describe problems, and direct changes without necessarily reading or fully understanding every line of code the AI produces. Tools such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and similar AI coding agents have made this increasingly practical for both pr

The Ninth Circuit provided a useful reminder to would-be Plaintiffs in trade secret cases: You've got the burden to prove your secrets are not readily ascertainable through proper means. What Manufacturers Should Learn from Comet Technologies v. XP Power Play the long game. In Comet, the record included a recorded recruiting call. Thousands of confidential technical files. Complete competing-product designs delivered in nine days. The trial resulted in a $40 million jury ver

Key employees often have access to valuable customer lists, pricing models, product roadmaps, and technical know-how. Much of this is the company's confidential information. At least some of this, if valuable and properly maintained, may also be trade secrets. So what happens when these key employees leave the company? The right answer is not panic or a boilerplate exit interview that nobody takes seriously. A departure should trigger a consistent process designed to protect

Companies sometimes choose trade secret protection over filing patent applications to avoid public disclosure and reduce upfront cost, particularly where patent infringement would be difficult to detect or patentability may be uncertain. That decision can be entirely rational and is often wise. But it carries a risk: what happens if a third party later obtains a patent covering similar technology? At that point, the question is no longer how to protect the innovation. It is w

Generative AI tools are now embedded in daily work across organizations. Employees use them to draft emails, memos, summarize documents, and brainstorm strategy. In many cases, that use happens casually and without consultation with legal. What feels like a productivity shortcut to an employee can look very different from the perspective of in-house counsel. The reality facing legal departments in 2026 is not whether employees are using AI tools in ways that conflict with com

For small, advanced manufacturing businesses supplying both automotive and aerospace industries, trade secrets are often a competitive edge. But if you work with Department of Defense (DoD) aerospace clients, the bar has just been raised. The DoD’s new 2025 Intellectual Property Guidebook for Acquisition, released in May 2025, underscores that managing IP—especially trade secrets and data rights—is now a critical part of contract performance. Here’s how small manufacturers ca