Employee’s Taking of Business-Built LinkedIn Contacts Supports Misappropriation Lawsuit

An employee who allegedly took LinkedIn account connections and contents after her job was terminated may be liable for misappropriation, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled Dec. 22, denying the employee’s motion to dismiss the company’s counterclaim (Eagle v. Morgan, E.D. Pa., 2:11-cv-04303-RB, 12/22/11).

The counterclaim was viable, Senior District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter held, because corporate personnel—rather than the employee—allegedly developed and maintained the connections and much of the contacts at the company’s expense.

No CFAA Liability for Company Mobile Number Transfer.

However, the court rejected Computer Fraud and Abuse Act ...