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New DOAR Study Reveals Generational Divide in Attitudes Toward Trade Secret Protection

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2 years ago

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Report Shows Younger Professionals More Accepting of Trade Secret Sharing, While Occupation and Gender Significantly Impact Views on Intellectual Property Rights

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — DOAR, the nation’s leading trial consulting company, today released findings from a comprehensive study examining attitudes toward trade secret protection and intellectual property rights across major IP litigation venues. The survey revealed significant generational and demographic differences in how potential jurors view the retention and sharing of confidential and technical information, with implications for both litigation strategy and corporate policy.

The report, “A Study of Jurors’ Attitudes Toward Theft of Trade Secrets Cases,” was conducted by the DOAR Research Center and surveyed 1,631 respondents across four major IP venues: the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas, the Waco Division of the Western District of Texas, the Central District of California, and the District of Delaware.

“The landscape of trade secret litigation has transformed dramatically in recent years, driven by record-breaking jury awards and increased vulnerabilities from remote work,” said Dr. Chad Lackey, Director at DOAR and author of the study. “Our research challenges traditional assumptions about who supports strong trade secret protections, with surprising variations across occupations and demographics.”

Key findings from the study include:

Young and Old Split on IP Rights: While 76% of those 65 or older found it completely unacceptable for employees to take technical plans from former employers, the majority of 18-24-year-olds found this conduct acceptable.
 Women Take Harder Line on IP Protection: Women consistently showed stricter ethical boundaries, with 63% finding it completely unacceptable to retain an employer’s technical plans, compared to less than half of men.
 Occupation Influences IP Attitudes: Workers in banking and finance were consistently more accepting of sharing confidential information. In contrast, office and clerical workers were significantly more likely to find such conduct unacceptable.
 Tech Workers More Lenient Than Expected: Engineers were more likely than others to find it acceptable to share technical documents with new employers, with 38% approving of such conduct. Computer science and IT workers also showed greater acceptance of sharing technical information from previous employers, challenging assumptions about technical workers’ attitudes toward IP protection.
 Venue Less Important Than Demographics: Individual characteristics and occupational background had a greater impact on attitudes than venue location, with age, gender, and occupation proving more significant predictors than jurisdiction.

“The data reveals complex attitudes about ownership of work product,” said Dr. Lackey. “With 59% of respondents believing it’s acceptable for employees to retain technical plans they helped develop, regardless of contractual obligations, combined with significant demographic and occupational differences in attitudes, companies face new challenges in protecting their intellectual property.”

Download the full report of our findings, including a detailed analysis of demographic factors and specific recommendations for trial strategy and corporate policy.

About DOAR

DOAR is the nation’s leading trial consulting company, providing critical insight and strategic advice to lawyers at top-tier law firms and major corporations involved in high-stakes, complex legal disputes.

For more information about DOAR, visit DOAR.com and follow us at @DOARlitigation.

Media Inquiries:
Cindy Siegel
Vice President of Marketing
media@DOAR.com

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SOURCE DOAR, Inc.

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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17 minutes ago

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October 24, 2026

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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October 24, 2026

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

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SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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1 hour ago

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October 24, 2026

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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