Ford Motor Co. has reportedly made objections to a pending injunction that seeks to bar the company’s use of allegedly stolen protected information. The automaker argues the proposed injunction is unnecessary as it has already ceased use of the specific trade secrets. These trade secrets, as claimed by Versata Software, were deemed by a jury to have been unlawfully obtained by Ford.
This ongoing legal dispute between Ford and Versata pinpoints the growing concerns for both corporations and law firms regarding intellectual property rights and the increasing difficulty in their enforcement. Within the subtleties of this case, the underlying question of how far can injunctions extend when the accused party professes cessation of use of stolen trade secrets also manifests. So far, Ford’s stance in the courtroom has been that of denial.
This case continues to unfold in a Michigan federal court, with both sides presenting their respective arguments. Only time will reveal the full impact of this trade secrets row on both the litigants and the wider realm of corporate law. For more detailed information regarding this case, please refer to the original reporting by Law360.