Role of Trade Secrets in Innovation Policy

Book excerpt: Many businesses have developed proprietary information that provides a competitive advantage because it is not known to others. As the United States continues its shift to a knowledge- and service-based economy, the strength and competitiveness of domestic firms increasingly depends upon their know-how and intangible assets. Contents of this report: Introduction; Trade Secrets and Innovation Policy; An Overview of Trade Secret Law: Basic Principles; Sources of Law; The Economic Espionage Act; Trade Secrets and Patents: Introduction to the Patent System; Trade Secrets and Patents Compared; Potential Policy Conflicts; The First Inventor Defense; Congressional Issues and Options; Concluding Observations. This is a print on demand publication.