trade secrets
Confidential business information
Trade secrets are confidential business information that gives a company a competitive advantage—formulas, processes, techniques, customer lists, or other proprietary knowledge that isn't publicly known.
Unlike patents, trade secrets have no expiration as long as they remain secret; the famous Coca-Cola formula is the classic example.
Companies protect trade secrets through nondisclosure agreements and restricted access.
Misappropriating someone's trade secrets can result in serious legal consequences.
Symbolic rules for calculation
- recipesInstructions for preparing dishes
- know-howPractical ability to accomplish
- techniquesSkilled ways of doing
- processesSeries of actions
methods · algorithms · source code · pricing strategies · manufacturing processes · business intelligence · proprietary technology · blueprints
Quality of protecting secrets
- non-disclosureMandated secrecy obligation
- NDASecrecy contract, abbreviated
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
restricted · secrecy · discretion · privileged information · concealment · gag order · information security · need-to-know
Theft of proprietary business information
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- industrial espionageStealing business secrets covertly
- reverse engineeringAnalyzing something to understand construction
- misappropriationWrongful taking of entrusted assets
insider threat · hacking · leaks · whistleblower · poaching · bribery · infiltration · surveillance
formulas
Symbolic rules for calculation
- recipesInstructions for preparing dishes
- know-howPractical ability to accomplish
- techniquesSkilled ways of doing
processes · methods · algorithms · source code · pricing strategies · manufacturing processes · business intelligence · proprietary technology · blueprints · specifications
confidentiality
Quality of protecting secrets
- non-disclosureMandated secrecy obligation
- NDASecrecy contract, abbreviated
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
classified · restricted · secrecy · discretion · privileged information · concealment · gag order · information security · need-to-know · embargo
corporate espionage
Theft of proprietary business information
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- industrial espionageStealing business secrets covertly
- reverse engineeringAnalyzing something to understand construction
misappropriation · insider threat · hacking · leaks · whistleblower · poaching · bribery · infiltration · surveillance · cyberattack
- Work Traditionscraft traditions, craft guilds, apprenticeships, work songs, guild halls
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- secrecysecrecy, secret, confidential, classified, hidden
- things to protectwildlife, endangered species, children, privacy, data
- craftsman'stoolbox, workbench, handiwork, craft, skill
trade secretspublic knowledge
Facts anyone can access
public domain · common knowledge · general knowledge · open data · public records
trade secretspatents
Exclusive rights to inventions
public disclosure · patent applications · copyrights · registered trademarks · creative commons
trade secretsopen source
Publicly accessible code
open-source software · creative commons · knowledge sharing · collaborative research · industry standards
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