# Trade Secrets Protection Trade secrets can be just as valuable as patents, but they require different protection strategies. ## What Qualifies as a Trade Secret? - Not publicly known - Has commercial value - Subject to reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy ## Protection Measures 1. NDAs with employees and partners 2. Access controls for sensitive information 3. Employee training on confidentiality 4. Documentation of trade secret management 5. Exit interviews when employees leave ## Advantages Over Patents - No registration required - No time limit (as long as it remains secret) - No disclosure of the secret - Lower cost to establish