Intellectual Property Law Commons^™

Practical Considerations In Trade Secret Licensing, Maxim Tsotsorin

Maxim Tsotsorin

In recent years, patents have become a prevalent instrument in technology transfer, both domestically and internationally. Commercializing patents, however, requires transfer of not only the potentially patentable subject matter, but collateral know-how as well. Despite apparent incompatibility of full disclosure required by patents with complete confidentiality of trade secrets that protect know-how, both categories of intellectual property are often combined in a “hybrid” license. Their synergy has been proven to result in successful transfer of technology and in benefiting both the licensee and the licensor. Licensors put their trade secrets at great risk of being lost or misappropriated by either …