Sally has come up with a unique recipe for cookies and is selling them through exclusive outlets all across Atlanta.As the sales skyrocket,her friends tell her to patent the recipe.However,she is so protective of her recipe that she does not even want to reveal her secret ingredients to a government agency.Is there anything she can do to keep the recipe legally protected?
A) No, she cannot protect her recipe unless she is willing to get her recipe patented.
B) Yes, her recipe can be considered a trade secret and she can legally prevent others from benefiting from her recipe without her permission.
C) Yes, she can declare her recipe to be a trade secret and register it with the U.S. Trade Secret Agency.
D) No, the recipe is not a tangible product and therefore cannot be protected.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sally can protect her recipe as a trade secret. Trade secret protection does not require registration with a government agency, but rather relies on the owner taking reasonable steps to keep the information confidential. By not disclosing her secret ingredients, Sally is taking steps to maintain the confidentiality of her recipe. If someone were to steal or use her recipe without her permission, Sally could take legal action to prevent them from doing so. Patenting is not the only way to protect an invention, and in this case, trade secret protection would be more appropriate for Sally's recipe.

Sally Has Come Up with a Unique Recipe for Cookies