They try to get charges pressed under the Economic Espionage Act, and may file civil suit as well against former employees they believe have taken or are using

They try to get charges pressed under the Economic Espionage Act, and may file civil suit as well against former employees they believe have taken or are using protected information, trade secrets or clients. "Non-compete" agreements are the civilized version that keeps everyone out of courtrooms, though the obvious abuse of the concept is itself causing legal drama, having been applied as a blanket policy rather than judiciously for select positions.