Got a special effects secret? A unique makeup formula? That may be a trade secret. If it doesn’t quite qualify as a trade secret, it’s still proprietary and/or confidential information.
Here’s the thing: Those kinds of secrets are only protected as long as you keep them, well, a secret. If you post your special formula on your social media, you’ve just released it from its cage. It’s gone. You can’t put it back in.
The key to trade secrets and other sensitive information is taking reasonable steps to keep it confidential.
That means non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, secure storage, limited access, and not sharing it with the world or untrustworthy people! Even the nicest Dr. Jekyll can turn into Mr. Hyde if they become inspired to ruin you by disclosing your secrets.
Intellectual property is one of the most terrifyingly useful tools you have. If you’re a creator or other entrepreneur ready to build a frighteningly powerful brand and business, you need to know how to use it. You don’t have to face the darkness alone, though.
I help entrepreneurs across the U.S. make smart, legally sound decisions about their intellectual property. I’m an attorney in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, but I serve intellectual property clients nationwide.
If you’d like to consult with me, you can use my contact form or book a consultation online at kingpatentlaw.com or by calling my office at 312-596-2222 or 217-714-8558.
Please check out the other posts and pages on my website for more information on intellectual property and business law issues. I’m also on most major podcast platforms as “Know Your Rights: Your Intellectual Property and Business Law Playbook” (video on YouTube, Spotify, and Substack only) and on most social media as @kingpatentlaw.
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