Wyoming Statutes

Wyo. Stat. § 40-24-101 (2026)

Definitions.

✓ current as of May 2026
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     (a) As used in this act, unless the context requires
otherwise:

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

         (ii)   "Misappropriation" means:

               (A) Acquisition of a trade secret of another by
a 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
another without express or implied consent by a person who:

                    (I) Used improper means to acquire
knowledge of the trade secret;

                    (II) Before a material change of his
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

                    (III) At the time of disclosure or use knew
or had reason to know that his knowledge of the trade secret
was:

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

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

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

          (iii) "Person" means a natural person, corporation,
business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint
venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency or any
other legal or commercial entity;

          (iv) "Trade secret" means information, including 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.

          (v)   "This act" means W.S. 40-24-101 through
40-24-110.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2014–2025 · leading case: Powder River Basin Resource Council v. Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Comm'n, 320 P.3d 222 (Wyo. 2014).
Powder River Basin Resource Council v. Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Comm'n, 320 P.3d 222 (Wyo. 2014). · cites it 4× “In analyzing the term "trade secret" in the WPRA, the district court referred to three different definitions-the definition in the FOIA, the definition in the Restatement (Third) of Unfair Competition § 39, and the Uniform Trade Secrets Act definition (Wyo.Stat.Ann. §…”
Powder River Basin Resource Council, Wyoming Outdoor Council, Earthworks, & Ctr. for Effective Gov't (Formerly Omb Watch) v. Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Comm'n & Halliburton Energy Servs., Inc., 2014 WY 37 (Wyo. 2014). · cites it 4× “In analyzing the term “trade secret” in the WPRA, the district court referred to three different definitions—the definition in the FOIA, the definition in the Restatement (Third) of Unfair Competition § 39, and the Uniform Trade Secrets Act definition ( Wyo. Stat. Ann. §…”
Lfp Consulting, Llc, a North Dakota Ltd. Liab. Co. v. David Edward Leighton, 2024 WY 12 (Wyo. 2024). · cites it 2× “Leighton from violating the AFA; 2) breach of the AFA by improperly using LFP’s and Ameriprise Financial’s confidential information and trade secrets, providing financial planning services to LFP’s clients, and soliciting LFP’s existing and potential clients; 3) misappropriation…”
Credit Sage LLC v. Credit Wellness LLC (D. Wyo. 2024). · cites it 10× “Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 40-24-101 (a)(iv). In its complaint, Plaintiff alleges that it has “developed trade secrets and other confidential information relating to its business, methods, techniques, processes, personnel, and customers.”
The Trial Lawyers Coll. v. Gerry Spences Trial Lawyers Coll. at Thunderhead Ranch (D. Wyo. 2022). · cites it 3× “Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 40-24-101 (a)(iv). Plaintiff maintains a digital database containing alumni information.”
The Trial Lawyers Coll. v. Gerry Spences Trial Lawyers Coll. at Thunderhead Ranch (D. Wyo. 2021). · cites it 2× “§ 1836 , and Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 40-24-101 , et seq., by accessing and misusing Plaintiff’s confidential and proprietary computer files.”
The Trial Lawyers Coll. v. Gerry Spences Trial Lawyers Coll. at Thunderhead Ranch (D. Wyo. 2020). “§ 40-24-101 , et. seq., through Defendants’ unauthorized access and misuse of Plaintiff’s confidential and proprietary computer files.”
The Trial Lawyers Coll. v. Gerry Spences Trial Lawyers Coll. at Thunderhead Ranch (D. Wyo. 2020). “§ 40-24-101 , et. seq., through Defendants’ unauthorized access and misuse of Plaintiff’s confidential and proprietary computer files.”
Aarow Elec. Solutions, LLC v. TriCore Sys., LLC (D. Maryland 2025). “See Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 40-24-101 ef seq. Thus, a claim for aiding and abetting misappropriation of trade secrets would be inconsistent with Wyoming law.”
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