5 ms·

Is that really true? Is there something I can read for a better understanding?

• Digory 9y ago
  The feds adopted a Trade Secrets Act in 2016. [0] But many states have had versions of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, starting in 1979.[1] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defend_Trade_Secrets_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defend_Trade_Secrets_Act [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Trade_Secrets_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Trade_Secrets_Act
• humanrebar 9y ago
  """ ...a trade secret is information that: * Is not generally known to the public; * Confers some sort of economic benefit on its holder (where this benefit must derive specifically from its not being publicly known, not just from the value of the information itself); * Is the subject of reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy. """ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_secret https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_secret None of those criteria requires a contract or even an explicit label, but some sort of agreement is certainly easier to defend in court, if the need arises. Likewise, trademarks don't technically need to be registered or even claimed, but they do need to be enforced. If you open source your trade secrets or let stores sell generic "Cheerios", then you have a weak claim if you ever need to bring someone to court. Gratuitous: I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, etc.
  • jackvalentine 9y ago
    Interesting... superficially it looks like patent protection without having to disclose the patent and have it eventually expire. Is that an accurate statement?
    • YawningAngel 9y ago
      You can independently reinvent it, you just can't steal it.
      • jackvalentine 9y ago
        What happens if for example, unsolicited someone from the competition tells me the secret?