Intellectual property can be crucial to a business’s success. Intellectual property helps a company make its brand unique and memorable. One component of intellectual property is trade secrets. Trade secrets include unique formulas, methods, designs and processes that make a business stand out from the competition.
The importance of trade secrets should not be overlooked. So, how can you protect them?
Training team members
Your team members can’t automatically know the importance of your trade secrets and confidentiality. This is something that should be stressed from the beginning. By providing introductions to new employees and regular training for all workers, you can establish a culture that protects sensitive information.
Restricting access
The fewer people there are who have access to trade secrets, the less likely it is that the information will be leaked. It may be unnecessary for everyone involved in your company to have access to sensitive information. For instance, only managers and supervisors or those within the design and production departments may need to know about trade secrets.
Another useful tip to protect trade secrets and other forms of sensitive information is to mark them as “sensitive” or “confidential” information. This will discourage anyone without authorization from accessing them.
A contractual approach
You can also take contractual steps to protect your trade secrets. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) can be included in your employment contracts and business contracts with clients. NDAs are legally binding, and they help prevent anyone subject to them from disclosing confidential information.
If you’re dealing with a trade secret breach, it’s important to act quickly. Seeking legal guidance will help you to limit the damage and further protect your company.
