Choosing Between Trade Secret and Patent Protection: A Primer for Businesses

When deciding whether to apply for patent protection on an innovation or whether to keep the innovation confidential as a company trade secret, there are many considerations that a business must take into account stemming from the different characteristics of each.

11 minute read May 01, 2022 at 12:09 AM
By
Darren M. Franklin
Choosing Between Trade Secret and Patent Protection: A Primer for Businesses

When an employee conceives of a new innovation, a business is often confronted with a difficult decision — whether to apply for patent protection on the innovation or whether to keep the innovation confidential as a company trade secret.

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