Some of the most valuable things in your business aren’t visible to the public. From secret recipes to customer lists, trade secrets can give you a real competitive edge—if you know how to protect them. This post explains what counts as a trade secret and how to keep yours safe.
A trade secret is information that’s valuable because it’s not generally known, and you’ve taken reasonable steps to keep it confidential. Examples: recipes, client lists, proprietary algorithms.
Protect trade secrets:
- Limit access to sensitive information.
- Use NDAs with employees, contractors, and vendors.
- Mark confidential documents clearly.
- Encrypt data and monitor access.
- Train your team to spot risks.
AI tools can leak secrets—manage them carefully.
Helpful resources:
- https://www.uspto.gov/ip-policy/trade-secret-policy
- https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2022-title18/USCODE-2022-title18-partI-chap90
- https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/insider-threat-mitigation
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Questions about intellectual property or need legal advice?
Contact Greenwood Law: https://www.greenwood.law/contact
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