Dear eBay and Craigslist – A Lesson On How Not To Spill Your Secrets To The Public

Implications: I am not even going to bother opining on the merits of the case.  There are plenty of companies over the years that have been involved in similar circumstances. However, this case is getting so much attention that whatever trade secrets they were trying to keep are now going to be publicly known.

Analysis: Here is the gist of the matter.  eBay is suing Craigslist for corporate espionage and Craigslist countersued with the same charges.  This takes the cake.

I have not seen anything like this so out of control.  eBay sued Craigslist first.  Then Craigslist countersued.  This looks like both companies lost control o the relationship and allowed it to go way too far.   I probably should not be too critical.  The facts have not come out yet.  We will have to wait until this matter goes to trial and then the public can be its own judge.  However, the companies are making so much noise their secrets will soon no longer be secrets.

This matter will definitely cause both parties to “open their overcoats and show their goods”.  Do both companies understand that intimate details regarding how both companies operate will be revealed?  Come to think of it if I were a competitor of either company I would be keeping my fingers crossed and hope the two go at it for months.

The suits are civil matters now and the depositions and testimony are all going to be available for everyone to read. Oh Goodie now everyone can find out how the two operate.  Of course if the judge seals all court records (including depositions) and limits access to the court room we will never hear all of their secrets.