The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act -- A Guide for General Counsels and CIOs

No company is immune from data theft — whether from hackers who are intent on stealing the company’s trade secrets, disgruntled employees who are looking for a competitive edge when they leave to join a new firm, or fraudsters who steal personal data to commit identity theft. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the federal computer crime statute, provides companies with the ability to file civil actions that are a powerful self help tool to retrieve stolen data and prevent its dissemination in the marketplace. This book surveys the current law on the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and provides insight and practical guidance to corporate General Counsels and savvy CIOs who want to protect their data and aggressively pursue data thieves. It also provides tips on proactive steps that can be implemented to take advantage of the statute. Nick Akerman, a former federal prosecutor now a partner in the international law firm of Dorsey & Whitney, regularly consults with Fortune 500 companies in an effort to protect their digital assets and aggressively pursue data thieves. "For years, Nick Akerman has been at the forefront of extracting power of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to protect and defend companies that have suffered a violation of their intellectual property rights. I have worked with Nick on a number of engagements and can attest not only to his expertise with the law, but also in understanding and using the actual digital evidence necessary in taking action, and that had real impact for our clients. In addition to responding to incidents that can befall a client, Nick also draws on his experience to offer readers practical advice they can use to be prepared in advance." - Ed Stroz, former head of the FBI's Computer Crime Squad in New York City