Question

Which of the following is not a condition that allows for the withholding of trade secrets?

1) Lack of reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy
2) Unauthorized disclosure by an employee
3) Reverse engineering by a competitor
4) Voluntary disclosure to the public

Answer 1

The condition that allows for the withholding of trade secrets is Reverse engineering by a competitor.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is 3) Reverse engineering by a competitor.

In order for trade secrets to be protected, certain conditions must be met. These conditions typically include:

1. Lack of reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy: The trade secret holder must take reasonable steps to keep the information confidential, such as implementing security measures or non-disclosure agreements.
2. Unauthorized disclosure by an employee: If an employee reveals the trade secret without permission, legal action can be taken.
3. Voluntary disclosure to the public: If the trade secret holder publicly discloses the information, it is no longer a protected secret.

Reverse engineering by a competitor is not a condition that allows for the withholding of trade secrets. Competitors have the right to reverse engineer a product or process in order to learn its secrets.