美國經濟間諜法(the Economic Espionage Act of 1996，簡稱EEA)制定公布後，適用疑義一一浮現，迄今已有數十相關案例。在EEA起訴外國人經濟間諜及美國人民竊取營業秘密罪的案例中，如何明確定義營業秘密，進而探討營業秘密保護之客體，其中包括電腦軟體的營業秘密性、美國政府懲戒國際經濟間諜行為，及針對受雇人的保密義務與電子郵件構成的責任等等，皆形成美國重要實務見解，並進而影響法院判決。 美國國會在制定EEA的立法過程中，立法原意即為避免外國經濟間諜的剽竊與利用行為，因此犯罪主體為外國政府、組織或國民的情形，正是EEA立法制止及懲戒的對象。經濟間諜法提供防治及懲處經濟間諜之制約，保障研發成果及營業秘密所有人之智慧財產結晶，遏阻不當剽竊、洩露營業秘密之犯意與行為，「聯邦化與刑罰化」是最大特色。 EEA的立法原意係針對外國人或外國政府在幕後支持、有組織性的經濟間諜行為，同時對美國境內洩露營業秘密的案件加以偵查，並對行為人科以刑責。觀察美國經濟間諜案例，正可提供我國未來立法之參考，再從EEA實體規範衍生的案例，是以歸納論證我國立法之迫切性及法條明文化的必要性。

With the increasing economic value of intellectual property, it is imperative that trade secrets be protected from both domestic and foreign thieves. In 1996, Congress passed the EEA making it a crime to steal, attempt to steal, or conspire to steal, trade secrets for the benefit of anyone other than the owner of the trade secrets. Thirdly, this paper collects and analyzes those cases discussing the validity, construction, and application of the EEA like the "void for vagueness" withstands a constitutional attack in the criminal context, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sting operation the computer crimes and e-mails the employ-employee relationship…. According to the relevant facts, the conclusion depending on the indictment is proper, the EEA could be adapted to prevent constitutional challenges. This analysis illustrates that Congress' attempt to give clarification to the EEA resulted in further application.