Trade Secret Protection, Management and Licensing: What TTOs Need To Know

Program agenda:

• What is a trade secret?
• Understanding the various methods of protection
• Factors TTOs should consider:
  • When others try to patent your trade secrets
  • University mission and the academic right to publish
• Licensing and management of trade secrets
  • Challenges in the university environment
  • Exclusivity
  • Scope
  • Cost factors: obtaining a patent vs keeping your secret confidential
  • Enforcement
• How to integrate trade secrets and patents to protect IP and boost licensing returns

Trade secrets are a unique form of IP whose value, unlike patents, trademarks, and copyrights, relies upon preventing competitors and others from discovering those secrets. Properly identifying what constitutes a trade secret, understanding its commercial value, and legally protecting it can be considered an important element of your overall IP strategy — or you risk losing that IP altogether.

Many TTOs have an incomplete understanding of the trade secret aspects of their IP portfolios and may fail to capture the value it can represent either alone or when paired with patent licenses. Of course, the academic right to publish must be factored in as well.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Richard Cahoon, PhD, and attorney Peter Toren for this important 90 minute program.

In this expert-led webinar, you’ll learn what’s needed to facilitate the creation, management, and commercialization of trade secrets.  In addition to a brief overview of the law underlying trade secrets, and some important legal concepts, you’ll hear practical advice on ongoing management and licensing issues related to trade secrets. A key topic will focus on how patents and trade secrets can be integrated to protect a new technology and increase its licensing value.

Please join us for a detailed look at how your university can best identify, protect and manage trade secrets to protect your valuable IP.

Program Leaders