Arconic Loses Claims After Failing to Identify Trade Secrets

Arconic Inc.'s trade secret claims against aluminum industry rival Novelis Inc. were rejected by a federal court in Pennsylvania after Arconic failed, despite “numerous warnings,” to specify what its alleged trade secrets were.

Ford Motor Co. selected Arconic’s aluminum pretreatment process to use for its F-150 trucks and required Arconic to license the technology to Novelis, which was also supplying aluminum for the project.

Arconic later sued Novelis in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, alleging Novelis disclosed its trade secrets and confidential information in a patent application. The court said that because Novelis’ application included ...