What It Means

A trade secret is information that has commercial value because it is not generally known and is subject to reasonable steps to keep it confidential. It can include formulations, manufacturing processes, algorithms, datasets, customer lists, or other technical or business know-how.

Why It Matters

Relying on trade secrets:

Offers potentially unlimited term of protection

While a patent expires after 20 years, a trade secret can last indefinitely, as long as the information remains confidential. This is ideal for products or processes that are difficult to reverse-engineer

Avoids disclosure and costs less upfront

Unlike patents, trade secrets don’t require filing fees or public disclosure. They’re an affordable way to protect technical information that’s unpatentable or difficult to monitor for infringement.

Complements your patent strategy

You can strategically choose what to patent and what to keep as a trade secret, provided patentabillty requirements are met.