Hi Howard, I don't know if trade secrets are up your alley …

 

 

The Receipt of Gifts by Federal Employees in the Executive Branch

Congressional Research Service, July 25, 2014

 

This report provides information on the federal statutes, regulations, and guidelines concerning the restrictions on the acceptance of gifts and things of value by officers or employees in the executive branch of the United States Government.

 

The laws and regulations on the receipt of “gifts” by executive branch personnel provide, generally, that an employee may not solicit or accept a gift:

(1) if the gift is from a “prohibited source,” or

(2) if the gift is given because of the employee’s official position.

 

http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43660.pdf  (9 pages)

 

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Stealing Trade Secrets and Economic Espionage: Overview of 18 U.S.C. 1831 and 1832

Congressional Research Service, July 25, 2014

 

Stealing a trade secret is a federal crime when the information relates to a product in interstate or foreign commerce, 18 U.S.C. 1832 (theft of trade secrets), or when the intended beneficiary is a foreign power, 18 U.S.C. 1831 (economic espionage). Section 1832 requires that the thief be aware that the misappropriation will injure the secret’s owner to the benefit of someone else. Section 1831 requires only that the thief intend to benefit a foreign government or one of its instrumentalities.

 

Section 1832 (theft) violations are punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or a fine of not more than $250,000 (not more than $5 million for organizations), or both. Section 1831 (espionage) violations by individuals are punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years, or a fine of the greater of not more than $5 million, or both. Section 1831 violations by organizations are punishable by a fine of not more than the greater of $10 million or three times the value of the stolen trade secret.

 

http://fas.org/sgp/crs/secrecy/R42681.pdf? 

 

 

 

 

Ralph Amelan
Information Resources
The American Center, Jerusalem
Embassy of the United States of America
Tel: 02-625-5755, ext. 320
Mobile: 057-420-6834
http://israel.usembassy.gov/ac/about2.html

Email: Amelanrm@state.gov
Email: TelAvivPDIRC@state.gov