Innovate or Perish: Managing the Enduring Technology Company in the Global Market

Dovetail Business Method Patents and Trade Secrets

It is certain that an integrated approach to IP coverage is likely to provide the best backup protection. This is no less true where marketing and business innovation are involved. As with filing traditional patent applications, the specification of a BMP must provide the “best mode” known to the inventor at the time of filing and contain sufficient information such that one of ordinary skill could carry out the claimed invention. All later-developed improvements of methods and machines, computers, software, documentation, product development specifications, scale-up engineering and designs, and the like may properly be protected as trade secrets. Many states have adopted provisions of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act wherein financial data and compilations are generally protected if properly maintained as confidential information.