Think you’re safe because you locked down protection through copyrights, trademarks, or patents? Maybe you’ve got a trade secret you need to protect, too.
A trade secret is any confidential information that gives you a business advantage, like a proprietary makeup formula for your horror-themed clothing and accessories line, a confidential list of vendors, or a unique process for a film effect. Sometimes it makes more sense to keep something secret than to make it public through a patent, and sometimes there’s no other way to protect it than to keep it secret.
The key is that you must take reasonable steps to keep it a secret. If you post it online, it’s out in the open, and it loses its protection. Make Igor sign a non-disclosure agreement! Keep that secret formula locked down!
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 trade secrets and other 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” and on most social media as @kingpatentlaw.
