What is the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA)?
The Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) is a US Federal law that provides for information on how long patents can be maintained, and for the judicial process to which one is entitled if someone knowingly violates or misuses patented trade secrets. A trade secret as proposed by the UTSA can be many different things. It may be an idea, a product, a formula, a piece of writing, or other things that if stolen could reasonably deter the profits of a company. Most patent law according to the UTSA allows for people to protect a trade secret for 17 years. The UTSA further defines the trade secret with three criteria. A trade secret cannot be so general that others could easily arrive at the same knowledge. The person holding the secret must take reasonable means to protect it. Further, the secret must have an economic value, as this last is the only means by which others can be held liable for obtaining and using the trade secret.
