Intellectual property can you keep a secret

It is generally the responsibility of the trade secret owner to keep the secret private. For example, government laws generally do not provide a means of prosecuting entities that use a trade secret that has been leaked and becomes public knowledge.

Since it is in the interest of intellectual property owners to keep their property secret, such property is not registered with the government. Instead, the owner can record the trade secret and have it notarized by an intellectual property lawyer.

Unlike trademarks, copyrights, and patents, which are registered with the government and made public knowledge, it is the responsibility of a trade secret owner to make sure the secret does not get into the public domain. The owner can attempt to protect the idea from entering the public domain by:.

A trade secret can be leaked to the public. Although the owner can sue and get damages from the leaker, other people can take up the idea and use it without consequences.

It is therefore in the interests of the secret owner to keep it private for as long as possible. Popular closely guarded secrets are the recipes of soft drinks, restaurant food, and the processes of manufacturing machinery. Drafting a general non-disclosure agreement may be a critical first step. Jeff Williams is an experienced mechanical engineer and lawyer that consults closely with clients in a strait forward and clear manner.

He brings a particular set of strengths and unique perspectives to the firm. Jeff received a B. He was an engineer for a number of years at a number of large corporations before pursuing his law degree.

By combining his education and prior work experience into the field of intellectual property law, Jeff has developed key skills to fully assist clients. View all posts by Jeff Williams. DFW Houston Follow Us:. What Is a Trade Secret? An Early Court Case The concept of trade secrets is not new. Why Do Trade Secrets Matter? Protection Is Essential If the owner does not take proactive steps to protect trade secrets, then he may lose his rights.

Although patents are the primary tool with which Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency protects its innovations, at times trade secrets are necessary, in particular for the protection of know-how. American software company Tiatros Inc. The WIPO Lex database is a comprehensive search tool that allows you to search national laws and international treaties on intellectual property.

WIPO Symposium on Trade Secrets and Innovation November — Exchanging ideas and perspectives on issues relating to the interface between trade secrets and innovation. IP and Business Universities Judiciaries. Trade Secrets What is a trade secret? In general, to qualify as a trade secret, the information must be: commercially valuable because it is secret, be known only to a limited group of persons , and be subject to reasonable steps taken by the rightful holder of the information to keep it secret, including the use of confidentiality agreements for business partners and employees.