Q.What is the difference between trade secret protection and patent protection?

A.Patent protection is available only for new, useful and non-obvious inventions, while trade secret protection is available for all types of information, so long as the information is secret and provides a competitive advantage. In addition patent protection is only available for a defined period of time, and trade secret protection can last forever. On the other hand, patent holders may exclude anyone from copying the patented invention, even those who independently and unknowingly developed the same invention. A trade secret owner, on the other hand, cannot prevent others from independently developing the same idea or invention.

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