Government wants restrictions during Coke trade secrets trial

[struggle4progress]

Friday, January 5, 2007
By HARRY R. WEBER, AP Business Writer

ATLANTA (AP) - Prosecutors invoked a law used in terrorism and government espionage cases in asking a judge Thursday to bar jurors at the trial of a former Coca-Cola secretary charged in a trade secrets theft case from disclosing to others confidential materials they are presented.

In the unusual request, the government also asked that any exhibits containing Coca-Cola trade secrets that are entered into evidence during Joya Williams' trial be sealed by the court.

The move comes even though reporters will be in the courtroom and will be free to report what they hear and see. The government said sealing the exhibits would "avoid further display and copying by the general public."

The government said in its motion that "initially" it is not seeking to close certain portions of the trial or to exclude the public from attending. It's unclear from the motion if that position could change later ...

http://www.dailyreportonline.com/Editorial/News/new_singleEdit.asp?individual_SQL=1%2F5%2F2007%4013021_Public_.htm

Apparently the point of National Security laws is to protect corporations ...

[cascadiance]

1. Maybe with any luck we can have HFCS declared a "trade secret" of Coca Cola...

... and then force Pepsi to go to use cane sugar instead of HFCS in it's soft drinks. THAT would make me switch away from their trade secret mix! :)

[valerief]

2. They must be adding plutonium to Coca Cola or something. Glad I

don't drink that crap.