ABSTRACT
Trade secrets are the oldest form of intellectual property, dating back to Roman times at least. The increasing variety of "trade secret" litigation makes definitions suspect. That issue is made worse by the development of new technology and business practices that also continue to expand the definitions of the term trade secret. This chapter discusses a composite list of the major examples of trade secrets that have recently emerged. A trade secret must actually be secret and have economic value that gives its owner an advantage over competitors who do know or use it; it must also not be obvious, or readily learned, by an examination of the product that is on public display. A trade secret must actually be secret and have economic value that gives its owner an advantage over competitors who do know or use it; it must also not be obvious, or readily learned, by an examination of the product that is on public display.
