Trade Secrets Case Over Cell Phone Upgrades Revived by 11th Cir.

A product development and intellectual property licensing company will get a second shot at trying a trade secrets case against Brightstar Corp. over cell phone subscriber insurance that included a provision allowing early device upgrades.

A reasonable jury could find that Subscriber Holdings LLC had a protectable trade secret that Brightstar misappropriated under state and federal law, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled on Dec. 30. It vacated the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia’s summary judgment in favor of Brightstar, which provides services such as cell phone protection, insurance, buybacks, and trade-ins. ...