Trade Secrets Law   Tags: intellectual_property  

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A trade secret is generally defined as a formula, pattern, physical device, idea, process, or compilation of information that both provides the owner with a competitive advantage in the marketplace and is not generally known or reasonably ascertainable.

In the U.S., trade secrets are protected under state laws, with most states having adopted the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA).  The Economic Espionage Act of 1996 also made the theft or misappropriation of a trade secret a federal crime.