Final answer:
The clandestine collection of trade secrets or proprietary information about competitors is known as economic espionage. This activity is illegal and differs from normal intelligence-gathering methods in its covert and often unlawful nature. Milestones like the secret Coca-Cola formula are examples of trade secrets that companies distinctly protect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The clandestine collection of trade secrets or proprietary information about competitors is known as economic espionage. This practice includes the covert acquisition of sensitive information pertaining to a company's methods of production, business strategies, or other data that give a competitive edge. Unlike normal competitive intelligence activities, economic espionage is illegal and involves breaking laws or regulations to obtain the information. One notable example is the case of the formula for Coca-Cola, which is a trade secret and not protected by patent or copyright law but is guarded by the company as proprietary information.
Trademarks are another form of intellectual property and refer to identifying symbols or names that can only be used by the firm that has registered them. It's important not to confuse this with trade secrets, which relate to confidential business practices and production methods that a company actively seeks to keep hidden to maintain competitive advantage.