A Florida business will do everything possible to protect its property and secure its financial interests. There are legal steps that will allow a business to do this by shielding its trade secrets from unauthorized use. Trade secrets, such as client lists, a proprietary formula or special processes, should be treated like other types of valuable property. Failure to put the necessary protections in place could lead to financial loss and the loss of competitive advantage.
Identify and secure trade secrets
Many of the most well-known businesses have valuable trade secrets they work hard to protect, such as the secret formula of Coca-Cola or the secret sauce on McDonald’s burgers. Just like these secrets, a company may have information that provides a certain value to the company and contributes to its success. This might include a process, formula, recipe, technique or physical device.
There are certain steps that will provide protection for this type of intellectual property. Companies may benefit from creating non-compete clauses or nondisclosure agreements that employees will sign. A business may also find it helpful to scrutinize processes and other aspects of its operations to determine what specific trade secrets need protection.
What legal options are available?
An assessment of the specific company will determine how it can take steps to shield its interests. The protection of trade secrets is a unique process that depends on the needs of the individual business. It may be helpful to speak with an experienced Florida business law attorney regarding the critical legal steps.