The Role of Trade Secrets in Innovation Policy

Citation
John R. Thomas, The Role of Trade Secrets in Innovation Policy (CRS Report R41391) (Jan. 15, 2014) (full-text).

Overview
A number of competing innovation policy concerns help shape the particular doctrines that comprise trade secret law. The availability of legal protection for trade secrets potentially promotes innovation, encourages firms to invest in employee development, and confirms standards of commercial ethics and morality. On the other hand, trade secret protection involves the suppression of information, which may hinder competition and the proper functioning of the marketplace. An overly robust trade secret law also could restrain employee mobility and promote investment in costly, but socially inefficient security measures.