Final answer:
Trade secrets are protected by state law, which means that competitors are not allowed to steal a company's secrets. The protection lasts as long as the secret is maintained, exemplified by Coca-Cola's formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses whether a trade secret is protected by state law. True, trade secrets are indeed protected by state law. Unlike patents and copyrights, which have specific formal requirements and time limitations, a trade secret can potentially last indefinitely, so long as it remains a secret. However, trade secret protection does not prevent independent discovery. Companies must actively protect their trade secrets through confidentiality agreements, security measures, and other precautions. A classic example of a trade secret is the formula for Coca-Cola, which remains undivulged and is not protected by copyright or patent, but rather through the company's efforts to maintain its secrecy.