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Companies rethink trade secret strategies even without US FTC noncompete ban

By Nick Robertson ( December 31, 2025, 17:10 GMT | Comment) -- Even without a nationwide ban, noncompete agreements remain under increasing federal and state scrutiny with the FTC targeting overly broad practices and states expanding restrictions. IP attorneys should prioritize alternative trade secret protections, including internal controls and data security measures, experts tell MLex.Even after the US Federal Trade Commission under the second Trump administration abandoned a Biden-era proposal to ban noncompete agreements, federal regulators and state legislatures are continuing efforts to curb their use. For companies seeking to protect their trade secrets, employment agreements remain a key tool, but one that may be losing its force....

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