Chicago Lock v. Fanberg is the case I was telling you about last night, J.D. - http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17605115413487325945.
Author of lock-picking manuals gets sued by the manufacturer of the locks. Chicago Lock loses on its trade secret misappropriation claim. Here's an excerpt from the facts of the case -

Appellant Victor Fanberg, the son of locksmith Morris Fanberg and a locksmith in his own right, has published a number of locksmith manuals for conventional locks. Realizing that no compilation had been made of tubular lock key codes, in 1975 Fanberg advertised in a locksmith journal, Locksmith Ledger, requesting that individual locksmiths transmit to him serial number-key code correlations in their possession in exchange for a copy of a complete compilation when finished. A number of locksmiths complied, and in late 1976 Fanberg and his father began to sell a two-volume publication of tubular lock codes, including those of Ace locks, entitled "A-Advanced Locksmith's Tubular Lock Codes." In 1976 and 1977 Fanberg advertised in the manuals in the Locksmith Ledger for $49.95 and indicated that it would be supplemented as new correlations became known. See Excerpt at 95-98. About 350 manuals had been sold at the time of trial. The District Court found that Fanberg "had lost or surrendered control over persons who could purchase the books," id. at 98, meaning that nonlocksmiths could acquire the code manuals.

The books contain correlations which would allow a person equipped with a tubular key grinding machine to make duplicate keys for any listed Ace lock if the serial number of the lock was known. On some models, the serial numbers appear on the exterior of the lock face. Thus, Fanberg's manuals would make it considerably easier4 *403 (and less expensive) for a person to obtain (legitimately or illegitimately) duplicate keys to Ace locks without going through the Company's screening process. This is what caused consternation to the Company and some of its customers. At no time did Fanberg seek, or the Company grant, permission to compile and sell the key codes. Nor did the individual locksmiths seek authorization from the Company or their customers before transmitting their key code data to Fanberg.

On 2/27/13 11:20 PM, J.D. Zamfirescu wrote: