Are trade secrets protected by international law?
Trade secrets are not protected by international law, but there are some related laws and regulations that can help protect trade secrets in some cases. In the United States, Washington state has its own trade secret laws that may help protect certain information and knowledge from being disclosed or misused. The Washington Trade Secret Protection Act has been in place since 2003, and it defines a trade secret as "any formula, pattern, device, process, or compilation of information that is not generally known to, or readily ascertainable by, the public and is used in, or intended for use in, current or future business activities". This act prohibits any unauthorized use or disclosure of trade secrets, as well as makes it illegal to induce or attempt to induce someone to disclose or misappropriate a trade secret. On the international level, some countries have signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Trade Secrets Treaty, which sets out some basic provisions for trade secret protection. While this does provide some legal protection for trade secrets, it does not offer the same level of protection as national laws. For example, the WIPO Treaty does not provide any remedies or enforcement procedures for trade secrets violations. Overall, trade secrets are not protected by international law, but they are protected under certain national and regional laws. It is important to understand the laws and regulations that may apply to trade secrets in the particular jurisdiction where they are used or disclosed.
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