[josgraha]

This is a disturbing trend by IBs flexing their legal might against their (former) software engineers. Before automated trading systems there were traders who carried their strategies around in their heads. On the surface it appears to be a game of scale because these strategies and systems are so costly if a trader walked off with a strategy it was one less bonus check they would have to pay. But if an engineer walks off with the design of a trading system and some strategies, then the firm might have to come up with some new strategies which is a costly affair indeed. Given the extreme nature of modern cybercrime laws to thwart terrorism and safeguard our economic infrastructure should they be used against ex-employees to safeguard intellectual property? Perhaps an interesting legal debate given the stakes.