Homer is employed by Titanic Global Octopus as a machinist producing

lenses used in highly sophisticated optical equipment. The general engineering methods for producing such lenses are widely known. TGO however has an in house training program that it uses to keep its workers up to date with advances in optical engineering. Many of these developments are the result of research work carried out by TGO's own scientists, others are from the latest technical and scientific publications such as "Optics Quarterly" and "Scientific American."

TGO has produced a series of manuals, engineering documents and drawings for use in the training program. The documents are only available to those employees who are participating in the training program, and each time a manual is used the name of the user is recorded in a special register maintained by TGO. The manuals are marked Confidential and each copy is numbered.

One day Homer is in the office of his boss, Monty, when he notices a document headed "NASA - Internal circulation only - Do not copy - Eyes only." Intrigued, he reads the document. It is the report of an experiment carried out on the Russian space station Mir by an American astronaut relating to the use of high grade polymer coatings on industrial lenses. Homer quickly replaces the report when Monty returns to his office and makes no mention of the report to him.

That night Homer is experimenting in his home workshop and remembering the NASA report he tries coating lenses he has made with various polymers. At first his results are unspectacular. However after a few weeks experimentation he makes a breakthrough and realises that the new coated lenses he has produced will revolutionise photocopying.

He resigns his job with TGO and sets up his own optical engineering business. TGO examine Homer's lenses and accuse him of stealing their processes.

Advise Homer as to any liability he may face from TGO and anyone else.