Trade Secrets

A trade secret is an idea, formula, practice, method, composition, process, design, instrument, pattern, or compilation of information which is not generally known or reasonably ascertainable (cannot be easily reverse engineered or figured out by examination or experimentation), by which a business can obtain an economic advantage over competitors or customers


A trade secret can be used for protection so long as certain steps are taken to restrict access and certain precautions must be taken to protect it.   The recipes for Coca-Cola and KFC chicken are two of the best-kept trade secrets in the world.  Neither item is patented, yet both have significant protection under the law.