How do you protect your trade secrets ?

There is no registration procedure for trade secrets. A trade secret is protected once its information is secret, has commercial value, and measures have been taken to keep the information secret. This type of protection lasts until the information is disclosed by you or by someone else.

Therefore, your company policy should include trade secrets and should define the different kinds of information that it covers:

• Knowledge you are willing to share if you get something in return. For example, know-how that you are willing to share for a licence fee;
• Confidential information that you are not willing to share as it gives you an important edge over a long-term competitor;
• Top secret information, such as the Coca-Cola recipe.