Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 417
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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  417.453.  Definitions. — As used in sections 417.450 to 417.467, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Improper means" includes theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy, or espionage through electronic or other means;

  (2)  "Misappropriation":

  (a)  Acquisition of a trade secret of a person by another person who knows or has reason to know that the trade secret was acquired by improper means; or

  (b)  Disclosure or use of a trade secret of a person without express or implied consent by another person who:

  a.  Used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret; or

  b.  Before a material change of position, knew or had reason to know that it was a trade secret and that knowledge of it had been acquired by accident or mistake; or

  c.  At the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that knowledge of the trade secret was:

  (i)  Derived from or through a person who had utilized improper means to acquire it;

  (ii)  Acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or

  (iii)  Derived from or through a person who owed a duty to the person seeking relief to maintain its secrecy or limit its use;

  (3)  "Person", a natural person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal or commercial entity, whether for profit or not for profit;

  (4)  "Trade secret", information, including but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that:

  (a)  Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and

  (b)  Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

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(L. 1995 S.B. 80 & 88 § 2)

(2002) Claim under section for misappropriation of trade secrets based on commercial activity within the United States comes within exception to general grant of sovereign immunity under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.  BP Chemicals, Ltd. v. Jiangsu Sopo Corp., 285 F.3d 677 (8th Cir.).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 46 cases (22 in the last 5 years), 1997–2026 · leading case: Cent. Trust & Inv. Co. v. SignalPoint Asset Mgmt., LLC, 422 S.W.3d 312 (Mo. 2014).
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Cent. Trust & Inv. Co. v. SignalPoint Asset Mgmt., LLC, 422 S.W.3d 312 (Mo. 2014). · cites it 5× “Sections 417.453; 417.455 (claims for in-junctive relief); 417.”
Cerner Corp. v. Visicu, Inc., 667 F. Supp. 2d 1062 (W.D. Mo. 2009). · cites it 12× “” Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(1). Here, Visicu produced an email sent from a Cerner employee to a Clarion employee requesting any documentation with details of the “call button.”
Secure Energy, Inc. v. Coal Synthetics, LLC, 708 F. Supp. 2d 923 (E.D. Mo. 2010). · cites it 4× “Mo.Rev. Stat. § 417.453(2). "Pursuant to MUTSA," misappropriation of a trade secret occurs when a person uses the trade secret of another without express or implied consent if that person: (a) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret; (b) knew or had reason…”
Avidair Helicopter Supply, Inc. v. Rolls-Royce Corp., 663 F.3d 966 (8th Cir. 2011). · cites it 2× “Code § 24-2-3-2; see also Mo.Rev. Stat. § 417.453(4). The district court found the DOILs 7 were compilations of publicly available information and new proprietary information.”
Huckshold v. HSSL, LLC, 344 F. Supp. 2d 1203 (E.D. Mo. 2004). · cites it 4× “]" Mo.Rev.Stat. §§ 417.453(2)(a) and 2(b)(c)(iii) (alterations added).”
Insituform Tech., Inc. v. Reynolds, Inc., 398 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (E.D. Mo. 2005). · cites it 4× “" Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(1). To make out a prima facie case of misappropriation against Purlee, Insituform is not required to show that Purlee personally accepted, used and/or disclosed Insituform's trade secrets.”
H & R Block E. Tax Servs., Inc. v. Enchura, 122 F. Supp. 2d 1067 (W.D. Mo. 2000). · cites it 4× “§ 417.453(2)(a) (incorporating phrase “improper means”, which is defined in § 417.”
North Kansas City Hosp. Bd. of Trs. v. St. Luke's Northland Hosp., 984 S.W.2d 113 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 3× “” While the documents certainly contain “trade secrets” as defined in § 417.453, the Trade Secrets Act protects only those trade secrets that are “misappropriated.”
Victoria's Secret Stores, Inc. v. May Dep't Stores Co., 157 S.W.3d 256 (Mo. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 3× “” Section 417.453 RSMo 2000. The protection does not extend to knowledge that is the natural product of the employment or known throughout the industry, but only to trade secrets or influences over customers.”
Crater Corp. v. Lucent Tech., Inc., 423 F.3d 1260 (Fed. Cir. 2005). · cites it 2× “Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453 (4) defines a "trade secret” as: Information, including but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process -that: (a) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not…”
Lyn-Flex West, Inc. v. Dieckhaus, 24 S.W.3d 693 (Mo. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “The definition section 417.453 provides, in pertinent part: As used in sections 417.”
Hallmark Cards, Inc. v. Monitor Clipper Partners, LLC, 757 F. Supp. 2d 904 (W.D. Mo. 2010). · cites it 2× “Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(4). The Clipper Defendants contend the Amended Complaint does not adequately describe the trade secrets.”
Show all 46 citing cases →
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453(1) — 3 cases
Insituform Tech., Inc. v. Reynolds, Inc., 398 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (E.D. Mo. 2005). “" Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(1). To make out a prima facie case of misappropriation against Purlee, Insituform is not required to show that Purlee personally accepted, used and/or disclosed Insituform's trade secrets.”
Cerner Corp. v. Visicu, Inc., 667 F. Supp. 2d 1062 (W.D. Mo. 2009). “” Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(1). Here, Visicu produced an email sent from a Cerner employee to a Clarion employee requesting any documentation with details of the “call button.”
North Kansas City Hosp. Bd. of Trs. v. St. Luke's Northland Hosp., 984 S.W.2d 113 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). “” While the documents certainly contain “trade secrets” as defined in § 417.453, the Trade Secrets Act protects only those trade secrets that are “misappropriated.”
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453(2) — 9 cases
Cent. Trust & Inv. Co. v. SignalPoint Asset Mgmt., LLC, 422 S.W.3d 312 (Mo. 2014). “Sections 417.453; 417.455 (claims for in-junctive relief); 417.”
Secure Energy, Inc. v. Coal Synthetics, LLC, 708 F. Supp. 2d 923 (E.D. Mo. 2010). “Mo.Rev. Stat. § 417.453(2). "Pursuant to MUTSA," misappropriation of a trade secret occurs when a person uses the trade secret of another without express or implied consent if that person: (a) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret; (b) knew or had reason…”
Insituform Tech., Inc. v. Reynolds, Inc., 398 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (E.D. Mo. 2005). “" Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(1). To make out a prima facie case of misappropriation against Purlee, Insituform is not required to show that Purlee personally accepted, used and/or disclosed Insituform's trade secrets.”
Crater Corp. v. Lucent Tech., Inc., 423 F.3d 1260 (Fed. Cir. 2005). “Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453 (4) defines a "trade secret” as: Information, including but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process -that: (a) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not…”
Cerner Corp. v. Visicu, Inc., 667 F. Supp. 2d 1062 (W.D. Mo. 2009). “” Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(1). Here, Visicu produced an email sent from a Cerner employee to a Clarion employee requesting any documentation with details of the “call button.”
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453(2)(a) — 3 cases
Huckshold v. HSSL, LLC, 344 F. Supp. 2d 1203 (E.D. Mo. 2004). “]" Mo.Rev.Stat. §§ 417.453(2)(a) and 2(b)(c)(iii) (alterations added).”
H & R Block E. Tax Servs., Inc. v. Enchura, 122 F. Supp. 2d 1067 (W.D. Mo. 2000). “§ 417.453(2)(a) (incorporating phrase “improper means”, which is defined in § 417.”
State Ex Rel. Private Nursing Serv., Inc. v. Romines, 130 S.W.3d 28 (Mo. Ct. App. 2004).
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453(2)(b) — 3 cases
Secure Energy, Inc. v. Coal Synthetics, LLC, 708 F. Supp. 2d 923 (E.D. Mo. 2010). “Mo.Rev. Stat. § 417.453(2). "Pursuant to MUTSA," misappropriation of a trade secret occurs when a person uses the trade secret of another without express or implied consent if that person: (a) used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret; (b) knew or had reason…”
Cerner Corp. v. Visicu, Inc., 667 F. Supp. 2d 1062 (W.D. Mo. 2009). “” Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(1). Here, Visicu produced an email sent from a Cerner employee to a Clarion employee requesting any documentation with details of the “call button.”
H & R Block E. Tax Servs., Inc. v. Enchura, 122 F. Supp. 2d 1067 (W.D. Mo. 2000). “§ 417.453(2)(a) (incorporating phrase “improper means”, which is defined in § 417.”
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453(4) — 15 cases
Cent. Trust & Inv. Co. v. SignalPoint Asset Mgmt., LLC, 422 S.W.3d 312 (Mo. 2014). “Sections 417.453; 417.455 (claims for in-junctive relief); 417.”
Avidair Helicopter Supply, Inc. v. Rolls-Royce Corp., 663 F.3d 966 (8th Cir. 2011). “Code § 24-2-3-2; see also Mo.Rev. Stat. § 417.453(4). The district court found the DOILs 7 were compilations of publicly available information and new proprietary information.”
Hallmark Cards, Inc. v. Monitor Clipper Partners, LLC, 757 F. Supp. 2d 904 (W.D. Mo. 2010). “Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(4). The Clipper Defendants contend the Amended Complaint does not adequately describe the trade secrets.”
Sigma-Aldrich Corp. v. Omar Vikin, 451 S.W.3d 767 (Mo. Ct. App. 2014).
H & R Block E. Tax Servs., Inc. v. Enchura, 122 F. Supp. 2d 1067 (W.D. Mo. 2000). “§ 417.453(2)(a) (incorporating phrase “improper means”, which is defined in § 417.”
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453(4)(a) — 3 cases
Huckshold v. HSSL, LLC, 344 F. Supp. 2d 1203 (E.D. Mo. 2004). “]" Mo.Rev.Stat. §§ 417.453(2)(a) and 2(b)(c)(iii) (alterations added).”
Cerner Corp. v. Visicu, Inc., 667 F. Supp. 2d 1062 (W.D. Mo. 2009). “” Mo.Rev.Stat. § 417.453(1). Here, Visicu produced an email sent from a Cerner employee to a Clarion employee requesting any documentation with details of the “call button.”
Pipeline Prods., Inc. v. S&A Pizza, Inc. (W.D. Mo. 2020).
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 417.453(b)(a) — 1 case
BP Chemicals, Ltd. v. Baloun, 183 F. Supp. 2d 1158 (E.D. Mo. 2000).
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