How do I obtain a trade secret?
Other fields of intellectual property law require disclosure of the application process, but a trade secret can be valid and protectable only if the information is actively maintained as a secret. Many companies utilize non-disclosure agreements and covenants not-to-compete to accomplish this goal. Additionally, access to the information is safeguarded and limited to key employees on a “need to know” basis. Trade secrets remain valid only as long as no one else has discovered the information independently and the information has not entered the public.
