Cadence Design Systems, Inc. v. Avant! Corp

In Cadence Design Systems, Inc. v. Avant! Corp. (2002) 29 Cal.4th 215, the question was when a claim for misappropriation arises for purposes of the statute of limitations. The California Supreme Court held that such a claim arises only once, when the trade secret is initially misappropriated, and that each subsequent use or disclosure of the secret augments the initial claim rather than arising as a separate claim. (Id. at p. 227.) In reaching this conclusion, the court stated: "A misappropriation within the meaning of the UTSA occurs not only at the time of the initial acquisition of the trade secret by wrongful means, but also with each misuse or wrongful disclosure of the secret ." (Id. at p. 223.)