If a person’s actions illegally interfere with a competitor’s legitimate commercial marketplace interests, an “unfair competition” law suit may be brought. Actionable illegal activities may include: “as passing off as”, commercial disparagement, false advertising, misappropriation, theft of trade secrets, and trademark dilution and/or infringement. Current “unfair competition” law suits have their roots in the “common-law” action for “unfair competition” that sought equitable relief against a competitor because of misrepresentation as to the source of goods or services.
