Trade Secrets

In addition to patents, trademarks, and copyrights, you may find that some of your most valuable assets may be your trade secret or confidential information. Manufacturing processes, customer lists, marketing strategy, and inventions in the process of development may all be trade secrets. There are several precautions you can take to help protect this information.

• Have employees or others who come in contact with the information sign a confidentiality agreement.
  
  
• Treat the information as confidential - do not put it on the wall for tour groups to see. Only allow those with a need to know to have access to the information, and make it clear to them that the information is to be kept confidential.
  
  
• Have exit interviews with employees who are leaving, reminding them of their obligations to maintain the confidentiality of your information.