On March 14, 2024, the Northern District of California (NDCA) put into effect a pilot program that may allow corporate whistleblowers to avoid legal consequences.

The Whistleblower Pilot Program (WPP) offers non prosecution agreements (NPAs) to individuals whose information and voluntary cooperation can assist the government in identifying and prosecuting criminal conduct in various areas, including “intellectual property theft and related violations.”  Effective April 15, The U.S. Department of Justice announced a program that will extend NPAs to corporate executives as well.

The program was developed purposefully in the NDCA as Silicon Valley is home to technology companies and startups with an abundance of intellectual property.  It aims to address corporate misconduct by refraining from prosecuting individuals who voluntarily come forward to disclose criminal activity, even if they themselves are implicated.