washington/new york u.s. senate monday approve legislation give company great legal protections commercial secrets allow first time sue federal court steal defend trade secrets act pass 87-0 amid strong white house back supporters hope unanimous vote boost bill prospect house representatives thieve would rather go trouble develop products rather steal fruit others creativity senate majority leader mitch mcconnell say urge passage bill argue would help protect american innovation theft intellectual property include trade secrets cost u.s. businesses 300 billion year accord 2013 report commission theft american intellectual property make bipartisan group high-ranking former u.s. officials reason bill receive support wide array company include boeing co ba.n johnson johnson jnj.n trade group biotechnology industry organization u.s. chamber commerce software lobby whose members include apple inc aapl.o microsoft corp msft.o trade secrets confidential information give business commercial edge vary widely depend industry include manufacture process formulas computer algorithms industrial design business strategies customer list company become increasingly concern protect threats include hack rogue employees legislation would give company right sue federal court recover damage enforce injunctions prevent dissemination steal trade secrets would also create uniform standard constitute trade secret theft currently company want sue relegate state court patchwork state laws trade secret theft already federal crime accord bill sponsor u.s. department justice lack resources prosecute crimes critics include group legal scholars warn broad legislation trade secrets could lead frivolous litigation federal court house version bill 120 sponsor house judiciary committee yet consider clear whether would act come months senate unanimously approve trade secrets bill