Final answer:
The main advantage of trade secret protection over patent protection is the potential for indefinite protection duration, as long as the information remains secret.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key advantage of trade secret protection versus patent protection is a) Longer protection duration. Patent protection requires public disclosure of an invention and offers protection for a limited period of time, typically 20 years for most patents. In contrast, a trade secret can remain protected for an unlimited duration, as long as it remains secret. Companies may choose trade secrets to safeguard valuable information without the need for registration or immediate public disclosure, allowing them to maintain a competitive advantage indefinitely. The formula for Coca-Cola is a classic example of a trade secret that has been kept for over a century without being disclosed through patent filings.