title: Protecting Trade Secrets in Canada.
abstract: Patents in the life sciences industries are a key form of intellectual property (IP), particularly for products such as brand-name drugs and medical devices. However, trade secrets can also be a useful tool for many types of innovations. In appropriate cases, trade secrets can offer long-term protection of IP for a lower financial cost than patenting. This type of protection must be approached with caution as there is little room for error when protecting a trade secret. Strong agreements and scrupulous security can help to protect the secret. Once a trade secret is disclosed to the public, it cannot be restored as the owner's property; however, if the information is kept from the public domain, the owner can have a property right of unlimited duration in the information. In some situations patents and trade secrets may be used cooperatively to protect innovation, particularly for manufacturing processes.
authors.affiliation: Bereskin & Parr, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3Y2, Canada.
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Courage
authors.affiliation: Bereskin & Parr, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3Y2, Canada.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calzavara
mesh_terms: D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002170:Canada; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D032982:Contracts / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004647:Employee Discipline / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D018973:Intellectual Property; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010330:Patents as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence