What Is a Trade Secret?

Other Forms of Intellectual Property (We’ll Get to Trade Secrets on the Next Slide) A Trademark is anything that identifies and

distinguishes the source of the goods or services of one party from those of others.

A Patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor.

Copyright protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. Copyright law protects the form of expression - the underlying ideas are not copyrightable.

OK, So What’s a Trade Secret?

A Trade Secret is a piece of information, not generally known or reasonably ascertainable, that gives a business an economic advantage over its competitors.

Trade Secret protection requires reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy.

Some of the most famous Trade Secrets include: Recipes (Coca-Cola) Formulas (WD-40) Algorithms (Google Search) For most businesses – may include customer lists, internal

specs and best practices guides.

“Negative” Trade Secrets

Negative information regarding your company can also be trade secrets, including: Abandoned solutions Research dead-ends Unsuccessful sales efforts

This info could help your competitors by letting them know what not to do – giving them a head start

How Long Do Trade Secrets Last? Potentially forever - if the information continues to

meet the qualifications (remember: a piece of information, not generally known or reasonably ascertainable, that gives a business an economic advantage over its competitors), and it’s not revealed, it remains a trade secret.

This indefinite life span means that trade secrets can be very valuable assets for your company.

However: rights in a Trade Secret only exist as long as the secret is maintained. If you broadcast it to the world, you’re out of luck.

Legal Protection for Trade Secrets Trade Secrets are governed in the U.S. by State and

Federal Laws including the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (adopted by most states in various forms.)

Misappropriation by Improper Means is punishable: May include theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach of

duty to maintain secrecy, or espionage

In 2016, Congress passed the Defend Trade Secrets Act, creating a Federal right of action for Trade Secret Misappropriation.

However: you can’t prevent others from independently discovering or reverse engineering your trade secrets.

How Do I File a Trade Secret?

You don’t! There is no way to file or register something as a trade secret.

Whether something is entitled to trade secret protection is determined by how you treat that piece of information.

How to Protect Trade Secrets

Employ multiple means of security Physical security for docs & prototypes Best Practices: Don’t talk about or publicize

your trade secrets Contract: Confidentiality or “Non-Disclosure”

Agreements For employees and 3rd parties

Common Trade Secret Security Procedures Restricting access to “need to know” individuals Marking docs or security areas “Proprietary and

Confidential” Keeping info under lock and key or imposing password

protection Monitoring access to info through log-in procedures &

sign-in sheets Shredding or destroying copies Exit interviews and agreements for departing employees

The Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine Courts may prevent former employees from working for a

competitor when disclosure of trade secrets would be inevitable

Factors considered include whether: The new employer is a direct competitor The new position is nearly identical to the old one, such that the

employee could not reasonably be expected to fulfill the new job responsibilities without utilizing trade secrets of former employer

The trade secrets at issue are highly valuable to both the former and the new employer

Warning: Don’t rely on this approach– not all states & jurisdictions have adopted this doctrine. This is a last resort!

What Happens When a Trade Secret is Breached? Legal remedies available may include:

Monetary damages Injunctive relief (temporary restraining order) – preventing

imminent disclosure Accounting for profits Destruction of wrongfully made goods

Catch-22: Legal enforcement may require disclosure of the trade secret Courts may impose a “protective order” to prevent the

general public gaining this information

Trade Secret Licensing

The owner may grant a license to another party to use the secret info Licenses may be exclusive or non-exclusive

Make sure that the contract terms are strongly worded and clear Contract must restrict disclosure of trade secret and

indicate what happens in the case of a breach Think through the various possibilities before drafting or

signing a Trade Secret Licensing Agreement

Prepared and Presented By:

David Lizerbram

David Lizerbram & Associates®

www.LizerbramLaw.com

Twitter: @DavidLizerbram

Direct Phone: (619) 517-2272

3180 University Avenue, Suite 260San Diego, California 92104

Final Note: This Presentation is Not Legal Advice

I am not your attorney. Nothing in this presentation should be taken as legal advice. This is simply general information that may be helpful. Consult an attorney if you have any specific questions or concerns.