Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Trade Secrets

What is a trade secret?

Any information that is critical to the success and the competitive advantage of a business is considered confidential or is sometimes referred to as proprietary. This may include information related to product formulation, manufacturing, customers, marketing, financial data, or any other know-how that cannot be protected through patents, copyrights, or trademarks. Alternatively it may be intellectual property that the organization, for strategic reasons, decides to protect as a trade secret and not by a patent.

How long is the protection term?

As long as the information can be kept confidential and until someone independently discovers the same idea.