Corporate espionage settlement negotiations typically take one to three years. Cases that stay contested often pass the two-year mark before they resolve.
Corporate espionage means stealing trade secrets, such as code, designs, or factory methods, to help a competitor. About 65% of federal trade-secret cases ended in likely settlement during 2023–2025, according to a Foley Hoag summary of LexisNexis/Lex Machina data Foley Hoag analysis. Cases that reached trial took a median 1,124 days, just over three years.
Official resources:
- Read the original report from Motorolasolutions — Use this primary source to review the complete report.
- Read the official notice from Venable — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What makes negotiations run so long?
- Can a case settle in about one year?
- Why do some deals close right before trial?
- What should you do if you expect payment?
What makes negotiations run so long?
Trade-secret fights need proof of secrecy, theft, and loss. That work takes document review, expert reports, and court rulings. Each step gives both sides a reason to wait.
Cases that reached summary judgment took a median 796 days, nearly 2.2 years, across 499 federal cases from 2023–2025, according to Foley Hoag Foley Hoag analysis. That milestone often sets the real settlement range. Talks can stall until a judge narrows the claims.
Can a case settle in about one year?
Yes, when business pressure favors a quick deal. A fast case usually has clear evidence, high trial risk, and leaders who want closure. Early mediation can then work.
Waymo sued Uber in February 2017 and settled in February 2018 after about one year, as TechCrunch reported TechCrunch report. The deal ended the trial after roughly one week for 0.34% Uber equity, about $244–$245 million. Public trial exposure helped push both sides forward.
Why do some deals close right before trial?
Many defendants will not pay full value until trial feels certain. A ruling on summary judgment can change that view. A set trial date adds more pressure.
SMS won 2024 summary judgment after a 2021 trade-secret suit, then resolved remaining counterclaims in a late-April judicial settlement conference before a May 2025 trial, according to Jones Day Jones Day case summary. The case shows settlement can come days before trial after years of litigation. Readers should not treat a long case as a failed case.
What should you do if you expect payment?
Most corporate espionage payments go company to company. They do not create a public consumer claim form.
Do not send personal data to a site that promises a share. If you are a worker, vendor, or investor, track the court docket rather than rumors for the settlement notice.
- Check who the plaintiff paid: company, government, or class members.
- Look for an official court order or claims administrator.
- Watch the case docket for dismissal or payment terms.
- Ignore calls, texts, or ads asking for a fee to join.