Trade Secrets/Technical Information

Technical information, or trade secrets, is information that:

• has economic value to the possessor,
• is not generally known to the public, and
• the holder takes reasonable efforts to keep secret.

If people at the University are aware of a process of how to do something that is not publicly known and is kept secret, then they hold a trade secret. Much of the information about new innovations or discoveries, commonly referred to as 'know-how,' is a valuable asset of a research program and may warrant management to ensure the ongoing use of the information in the research project. As part of the process of working with UW TechTransfer, we help you educate your project team and take the necessary legal precautions to ensure that the trade secrets in your research are managed responsibly.

« Back to Managing Your Innovation’s Intellectual Property page