The first trade secret laws existed in ancient Roman times to prevent bribing of slaves to get their master’s secrets. The first civil lawsuits are reported in England in the 1800s, first US case was Vickery v. Welch, 36 Mass. 523 (1837). Welch bought a chocolate factory from Vickery, together with his secret chocolate formula, and soon after Welch began operations Vickery started up business again with the same formula. Welch sued and won. Vickery has evolved into various federal statutes, state statutes and common laws, both civil and criminal, which generally prevent the "misappropriation" of "trade secrets."