A trade secret is a way of protecting technology without disclosing the technology to the public. Unlike patents or designs, a trade secret is not a registrable IP right.

Trade secrets are suitable for protecting technology that cannot be reversed engineered, such as a way of making a something or a “secret sauce” and other intangible goods, such as intellectual capital. Unlike patents which have eligibility requirements, trade secrets can apply to potentially any asset.

Many organisations develop organisation-specific knowledge that is of commercial interest to competitors. Identifying and protecting organisation-specific knowledge helps to ensure secure these intangible assets for commercial gain.

At IIP, we can identify and manage your trade secrets.