What type of information is not protected by trade secret law?

In Washington, trade secret law protects information or methods that give a business a competitive edge over its rivals. However, not all information is protected under the trade secret law. This includes any information that is publicly available, known in the trade, or was acquired by public means. Additionally, trade secret protection does not apply to inventions that can be patented, as patent law provides its own protections. In some cases, it may also not protect information if it was obtained through illegal activity, such as theft or bribery. Finally, trade secret law does not protect information that was shared with a third party, unless a non-disclosure agreement was in place between the two parties at the time of the information’s sharing. It is important to note that the law does not protect any information that is not kept secret by the business. For instance, trade secrets such as recipes, formulas, and processes must be carefully guarded and kept confidential in order for them to be legally protected. Additionally, businesses should ensure that their trade secrets are only shared among those who need to know, and that they have proper procedures in place to protect their information.

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