I believe something like this would definitely violate your NDA or CDA. IMO your manager made a great decision. Just having the wrong logo is enough for a violation depending on what is patented. Companies like Tiffany Co. actually patent the shade of blue/green they use!
I think copying a general layout is okay, just looked down upon. Copying macros are definitely cause for concern. This goes to show the type of quality checks managers must do daily to avoid added risk. This was a decision that could have severely hampered the company. It could have even resulted in negative publicity for the company. It’s not only the fact that one company might copy another’s template. Each company needs to develop their own brand. Copying something like this from another company clearly shows that there is no unique business identity established.