Abstract
This entry provides a summary of issues on trade secret both as a legal concept and as a research subject. First, it discusses the general standards that are commonly used in the definition of trade secret and the precautionary measures and the legal system for trade secrecy. It also compares the advantages and disadvantages of the legal protection of trade secrets with that of patents, while pointing out the supplemental role of trade secret. Next, two streams of academic literature are reviewed, on firms’ strategic incentives for disclosing confidential information to competitors and to channel partners respectively. The issues examined in the economics of trade secret law are also briefly addressed.
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Guo, L. (2016). Trade Secret. In: Augier, M., Teece, D. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_528-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_528-1
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