So you want to start a company.  Which business structure are you going to choose?

There are quite a few options available, but four of the main business entity types will be discussed in this post: sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company and corporation.  While there are specific tax implications and filing requirements associated with each of these business structures, I will be focusing on the general characteristics of each entity type.

Sole Proprietorship

Basic IP Terminology—What is a Trade Secret?

My past two blog posts in the basic IP terminology series have addressed copyright and trademark, respectively.  This third and final installation of the series will cover the area of trade secret law and what type of information can constitute a protectable trade secret.

What is a Trade Secret?

Under the Uniform Trade Secret Act (UTSA), which has been enacted by most states (including California) and the District of Columbia, a trade secret has three basic components:

• It consists of information of some kind (such as a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process);