Argile has worked for three years to reverse engineer a process of making an over-the-counter pain-killer. Zetena Pharmaceuticals sues Argile for violation of trade secrets under their state's law. Will Zetena win?
A) Yes, competitors may not discover trade secrets by doing reverse engineering.
B) Yes, competitors may discover secrets by reverse engineering but still must pay royalties.
C) Yes, pharmaceuticals cannot be reverse engineered.
D) No, because there is no registration of trade secrets so there are no protections.
E) No, the process of reverse engineering is a lawful way of discovery.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reverse engineering is generally considered a lawful method to discover how something works, including the process for making a product, provided it is done without violating any agreements or laws such as confidentiality agreements. Trade secrets are protected, but the act of independently discovering a process through reverse engineering does not typically violate trade secret laws.

Argile Has Worked for Three Years to Reverse Engineer a Process