A trade secret is any information used in one's business that derives independent economic value from being kept secret. Unlike patents, trade secrets are protected indefinitely for as long as they remain a secret. Due in part to the enactment of the Defend Trade Secrets Act in 2016, trade secrets have become an increasingly attractive form of intellectual property for businesses hoping to protect their innovations.

This White Paper summarizes and explains recent noteworthy decisions in trade secret law in the second half of 2019. (Also see our Mid-Year Review of Key Trade Secret Decisions.) Each of these decisions has meaningful implications for trade secret owners, defendants, and practitioners alike.