A Western Swiss software company became aware of a possible violation of its trade secrets after customers reported a suspiciously similar competitor product. Privatdetektei Ryffel AG played a decisive role in uncovering the situation.
Initial Situation:
A company specializing in industry-specific software received information that a startup founded by former employees was offering a similar software solution. To investigate these allegations, the company hired Privatdetektei Ryffel AG to observe the suspects.
Investigations:
Privatdetektei Ryffel AG discovered that the former employees had rented office space in a commercial building near Lake Geneva. To get closer to the targets, the detective agency rented an office in the same building. From this advantageous position, the investigators were able to spot data carriers through the glass office fronts that clearly contained source codes and other sensitive information belonging to the client.
Results and Legal Action:
The observations and evidence were documented in a way that was admissible in court, leading to the initiation of proceedings by the public prosecutor. A subsequent search of the premises resulted in the seizure of data carriers, including the source code of the client’s software.
Conclusions and Appreciation:
The successful uncovering of the trade secret violations led to recognition of Privatdetektei Ryffel AG by both the affected company and the public prosecutor. The precise and professional investigations by the agency were crucial in securing evidence and enabling legal action.
This case study highlights the importance of effective private investigations in uncovering and protecting trade secrets. It also emphasizes how critical it is for companies to act quickly and professionally when there is suspicion of violations in order to protect their rights and intellectual property.
