January 5, 2011

Mr. W. Montgomery Meitler

Assistant Counsel

Office of Legal Services

Texas Education Agency

1701 North Congress Avenue

Austin, Texas 78701-1494

OR2011-00255

Dear Mr. Meitler:

You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under the Public Information Act (the "Act"), chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID# 405129 (TEA PIR# 14137).

The Texas Education Agency (the "agency") received a request for the driving safety course guide and instructor training guides from three specified course providers. You state the agency will withhold or release information from two of the specified providers in accordance with the ruling issued by this office in Open Records Letter No. 2003-6379 (2003). ⁽¹⁾ See Open Records Decision No. 673 (2001) (so long as law, facts, and circumstances on which prior ruling was based have not changed, first type of previous determination exists where requested information is precisely same information as was addressed in prior attorney general ruling, ruling is addressed to same governmental body, and ruling concludes information is or is not excepted from disclosure). Although you take no position with respect to the public availability of the submitted information, you state release of this information may implicate the proprietary interests of International Driver Training, Inc. ("IDT"). You inform us, and provide documentation showing, pursuant to section 552.305 of the Government Code, you have notified IDT of the request and of its right to submit arguments to this office explaining why its information should not be released. See Gov't Code § 552.305 (permitting interested third party to submit to attorney general reasons why requested information should not be released); see also Open Records Decision No. 542 (1990) (determining statutory predecessor to section 552.305 permits governmental body to rely on interested third party to raise and explain applicability of exception in certain circumstances). We have received arguments on behalf of IDT. We have considered the submitted arguments and reviewed the submitted information.

IDT raises section 552.104 of the Government Code, which excepts from disclosure "information that, if released, would give advantage to a competitor or bidder." Gov't Code § 552.104(a). However, this section is a discretionary exception that only protects the interests of a governmental body, as distinguished from exceptions that are intended to protect the interests of third parties. See Open Records Decision No. 592 at 8 (1991) (statutory predecessor to section 552.104 designed to protect interests of a governmental body in a competitive situation, and not interests of private parties submitting information to the government). The agency has not raised section 552.104. Therefore, we will not consider IDT's claim under section 552.104, and the agency may not withhold any of IDT's information on that basis.

Section 552.110(a) of the Government Code excepts from disclosure "[a] trade secret obtained from a person and privileged or confidential by statute or judicial decision." Gov't Code § 552.110(a). The Texas Supreme Court has adopted the definition of trade secret from section 757 of the Restatement of Torts. Hyde Corp. v. Huffines, 314 S.W.2d 763 (Tex. 1958); see also Open Records Decision No. 552 at 2 (1990). Section 757 provides a trade secret is

any formula, pattern, device or compilation of information which is used in one's business, and which gives him an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know or use it. It may be a formula for a chemical compound, a process of manufacturing, treating or preserving materials, a pattern for a machine or other device, or a list of customers. It differs from other secret information in a business . . . in that it is not simply information as to single or ephemeral events in the conduct of the business . . . . A trade secret is a process or device for continuous use in the operation of the business . . . . [It may] relate to the sale of goods or to other operations in the business, such as a code for determining discounts, rebates or other concessions in a price list or catalogue, or a list of specialized customers, or a method of bookkeeping or other office management.

Restatement of Torts § 757 cmt. b (1939); see also Huffines, 314 S.W.2d at 776. In determining whether particular information constitutes a trade secret, this office considers the Restatement's definition of trade secret as well as the Restatement's list of six trade secret factors. ⁽²⁾ Restatement of Torts § 757 cmt. b (1939). This office must accept a private person's claim for exception as valid under section 552.110 if that person establishes a prima facie case for exception and no argument is submitted that rebuts the claim as a matter of law. ORD 552 at 5-6. However, we cannot conclude section 552.110(a) applies unless it has been shown the information meets the definition of a trade secret and the necessary factors have been demonstrated to establish a trade secret claim. See Open Records Decision No. 402 (1983).

Section 552.110(b) excepts from disclosure "[c]ommercial or financial information for which it is demonstrated based on specific factual evidence that disclosure would cause substantial competitive harm to the person from whom the information was obtained." Gov't Code § 552.110(b). Section 552.110(b) requires a specific factual or evidentiary showing, not conclusory or generalized allegations, that substantial competitive injury would likely result from release of the requested information. See ORD 661 at 5-6 (business enterprise must show by specific factual evidence that release of information would cause it substantial competitive harm).

IDT contends its information constitutes a trade secret under section 552.110(a) of the Government Code. After reviewing the company's arguments and the information at issue, we conclude IDT has failed to establish a prima facie case that any of its information is a trade secret protected by section 552.110(a). Thus, the agency may not withhold any portion of the submitted information under section 552.110(a) of the Government Code. See ORD 402.

We also understand IDT to contend its information is protected under section 552.110(b) of the Government Code. Upon review, we find ITD has made only conclusory allegations that the release of its information would cause the company substantial competitive injury. See Open Records Decision Nos. 661 (for information to be withheld under commercial or financial information prong of section 552.110, business must show by specific factual evidence that substantial competitive injury would result from release of particular information at issue). Accordingly, the agency may not withhold any of IDT's information under section 552.110(b).

IDT also asserts its information is protected by copyright. A custodian of public records must comply with the copyright law and is not required to furnish copies of records that are copyrighted. Open Records Decision No. 180 at 3 (1977). A governmental body must allow inspection of copyrighted materials unless an exception applies to the information. Id.; see Open Records Decision No. 109 (1975). If a member of the public wishes to make copies of copyrighted materials, the person must do so unassisted by the governmental body. In making copies, the member of the public assumes the duty of compliance with the copyright law and the risk of a copyright infringement suit.

In summary, the agency must release the submitted information, but any copyrighted information may only be released in accordance with copyright law.

This letter ruling is limited to the particular information at issue in this request and limited to the facts as presented to us; therefore, this ruling must not be relied upon as a previous determination regarding any other information or any other circumstances.

This ruling triggers important deadlines regarding the rights and responsibilities of the governmental body and of the requestor. For more information concerning those rights and responsibilities, please visit our website at http://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/index_orl.php, or call the Office of the Attorney General's Open Government Hotline, toll free, at (877) 673-6839. Questions concerning the allowable charges for providing public information under the Act must be directed to the Cost Rules Administrator of the Office of the Attorney General, toll free, at (888) 672-6787.

Sincerely,

Mack T. Harrison

Assistant Attorney General

Open Records Division

MTH/vb

Ref: ID# 405129

Enc. Submitted documents

c: Requestor

(w/o enclosures)

Delia Cruz-Bruno

Attorney for IDT

1201 North Carroll Avenue

Southlake, Texas 76092

(w/o enclosures)

Footnotes

1. The third specified provider, International Driver Training, Inc. ("IDT") argues its information also should be withheld pursuant to the previous determination in Open Records Letter No. 2003-6379. We note, however, Open Records Letter No. 2003-6379 did not address IDT's information. Therefore, the agency may not withhold IDT's information on that basis.

2. The following are the six factors the Restatement gives as indicia of whether information constitutes a trade secret:

(1) the extent to which the information is known outside of [the company];

(2) the extent to which it is known by employees and others involved in [the company's] business;

(3) the extent of measures taken by [the company] to guard the secrecy of the information;

(4) the value of the information to [the company] and [its] competitors;

(5) the amount of effort or money expended by [the company] in developing the information;

(6) the ease or difficulty with which the information could be properly acquired or duplicated by others.

Restatement of Torts § 757 cmt. b (1939); see also Open Records Decision Nos. 319 at 2 (1982), 306 at 2 (1982), 255 at 2 (1980).

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