Texas statute
Tex. Penal Code § 31.05 — Theft of trade secrets
Current through 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025)
Part of Chapter 31: THEFT, Texas Penal Code.
Full text of Tex. Penal Code § 31.05
Statutory text current through the 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Texas.
(a) For purposes of this section: (1) "Article" means any object, material, device, or substance or any copy thereof, including a writing, recording, drawing, sample, specimen, prototype, model, photograph, microorganism, blueprint, or map. (2) "Copy" means a facsimile, replica, photograph, or other reproduction of an article or a note, drawing, or sketch made of or from an article. (2-a) "Foreign agent" means an officer, employee, proxy, servant, delegate, or representative of a foreign government. (2-b) "Foreign government" has the meaning assigned by Section 51B.001 , Education Code. (2-c) "Foreign instrumentality" means an agency, bureau, ministry, component, institution, association, or legal, commercial, or business organization, corporation, firm, or entity that is substantially owned, controlled, sponsored, commanded, managed, or dominated by a foreign government. (3) "Representing" means describing, depicting, containing, constituting, reflecting, or recording. (4) "Trade secret" means the whole or any part of any scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula, or improvement that has value and that the owner has taken measures to prevent from becoming available to persons other than those selected by the owner to have access for limited purposes. (b) A person commits an offense if, without the owner's effective consent, he knowingly: (1) steals a trade secret; (2) makes a copy of an article representing a trade secret; or (3) communicates or transmits a trade secret. (c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person who committed the offense intended to benefit a foreign agent, foreign government, or foreign instrumentality.
Official sources
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