Another Womble Trade Secrets Blog First - Trade Secrets Claim Made to Stop Political Rally!

The Washington Business Journal is reporting that a production company for large-scale entertainment and political rallies is asking a federal judge to halt a rally that a liberal political coalition is planning for this Saturday on the National Mall, alleging the group publicized the production company’s trade secrets while planning the event.

According to a complaint filed by National Events yesterday, the company sent rally planners a revised proposal on Sept. 19 for the total cost of the rally. The $1.1 million proposal included quotes and logistical plans for production equipment specifications, portable restrooms, first aid equipment and other costs.

Using the confidential proposal, the rally planners then contacted the third-party subcontractors listed in the proposal, seeking a better price than National Events quoted them, according to the complaint.

In a response, The Tides Center, a nonprofit doing business as One Nation Working Together, said a cost proposal that the company had submitted didn’t constitute a trade secret and there was never any contractual relationship. Furthermore, the planners argued, National Events hasn’t shown why staging the rally as planned would harm the company.

An injunction hearing is scheduled for Friday. We'll keep an eye on this one for you. Please - no jokes about liberals wanting a big production but not being willing to pay for it.