trade secret

trade secret
trade se·cret n: a formula, process, device, or item of information used by a business that has economic value because it is not generally known or easily discovered by observation or examination and for which reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy have been made
◇ Trade secrets are a form of intellectual property. Many states have enacted laws which create an action for damages or injunctive relief against misappropriation of trade secrets by improper means. Information contained in a patent is not protected as a trade secret.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

trade secret
n.
A secret formula, pattern, plan, process, machine, or method of compiling information known and used exclusively by one business that could give competitors an advantage if they acquired it.

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


trade secret
Any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that is used in business, that is not generally known, and that gives the owner an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know it. A trade secret must also be the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
Category: Patent, Copyright & Trademark → Trade Secrets

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.

trade secret
USA
A type of intellectual property, information (for example, formulas, drawings, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques or processes) which:
• Provides an economic or competitive advantage to its owner because the information is not generally known by or available to third parties.
• Is subject to reasonable efforts by its owner to maintain its secrecy.
Trade secrets are protected primarily by state law. The specific requirements for, and scope of, protection vary from state to state, although most states have adopted a version of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (a model law drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws).
For further information, see Practice Note, Intellectual Property: Overview: Trade Secrets (www.practicallaw.com/8-383-4565).

Practical Law Dictionary. Glossary of UK, US and international legal terms. . 2010.


trade secret
Any valuable commercial information that provides a business with an advantage over competitors who do not have that information.

Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.


trade secret
Any valuable commercial information that provides a business with an advantage over competitors who do not have that information.

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

trade secret
n.
   a process, method, plan, formula or other information unique to a manufacturer, which gives it an advantage over competitors. Therefore the trade secret has value and may be protected by a court-ordered injunction against use or revelation of trade secrets by an employee, former employee or someone who comes into possession of the trade secret. The employer may seek damages against such a person for revealing the secret. In addition, the owner of a trade secret involved in a lawsuit may request a "protective order" from the judge to prohibit revelation of a trade secret or a sealing of the record in the case where references to the trade secret are made. A trade secret is a business process and not a patentable invention.
   See also: patent, trade

Law dictionary. . 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Trade secret — Trade Secrets redirects here. For other uses, see Trade Secrets (disambiguation). Intellectual property law Primary rights …   Wikipedia

  • trade secret — ➔ secret * * * trade secret UK US noun [C] ► a valuable piece of information about a product, project, etc. which is known only to people in the company involved, and which is kept secret from competitors: »He was fired for revealing the company… …   Financial and business terms

  • trade secret — trade secrets 1) N COUNT A trade secret is information that is known, used, and kept secret by a particular firm, for example about a method of production or a chemical process. The nature of the polymer is currently a trade secret. 2) N COUNT A… …   English dictionary

  • trade secret — n 1.) a piece of secret information about a particular business, that is only known by the people who work there ▪ The Coca Cola formula is a well kept trade secret. 2.) informal a piece of information about how to do or make something, that you… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • trade secret — noun count information that is known only by people within a particular company or industry …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • trade secret — n. any device, method, formula, etc. known to the manufacturer who uses it but not to competitors …   English World dictionary

  • Trade Secret — Any practice or process of a company that is generally not known outside of the company. Information considered a trade secret gives the company an economic advantage over its competitors, and is often associated with internal research and… …   Investment dictionary

  • trade secret — noun a secret (method or device or formula) that gives a manufacturer an advantage over the competition • Hypernyms: ↑secret * * * noun, pl ⋯ crets [count] : something (such as a special way of doing or making something) that is known only by the …   Useful english dictionary

  • trade secret —    A process, method, plan, formula, pattern, device, idea or other information unique to a manufacturer that gives it a competitive advantage. A business must treat a trade secret in a way that can reasonably be expected to prevent the public or …   Business law dictionary

  • trade secret — noun (C) 1 a piece of secret information about a particular business, that is only known by the people who work there: The Coca Cola formula is a well kept trade secret. 2 informal a piece of information about how to do or make something, that… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”