Question

One key advantage that trade secret law has over the use of patents and copyrights in protecting companies from losing control of their intellectual property is ____.

a. the time limitation for a trade secret is longer than for patents and copyrights
b. no royalties must be paid on trade secrets
c. trade secrets can become part of the prior art and be used to protect patents and copyrights
d. there is no need to file an application or disclose the trade secret to gain protection

Answer 1

Option (d), The key advantage of trade secret law over patents and copyrights is that there is no requirement to publicly disclose the information or to file an application to receive the trade secret's protection.

Step-by-step explanation:

One key advantage that trade secret law has over the use of patents and copyrights in protecting companies from losing control of their intellectual property is d. there is no need to file an application or disclose the trade secret to gain protection.

Trade secrets, unlike patents, do not require disclosure to the public and do not have a specified term of protection, so they can potentially last indefinitely as long as the secret is maintained. This characteristic offers a significant strategic advantage for businesses, as seen with the long-standing secrecy of the Coca-Cola formula.