An Introduction to California Trade Secret Law

If a company takes reasonable measures to protect its information, and if the information is valuable because it is kept secret, California courts will recognize that common, every-day pieces of data can be afforded protection as a trade secret. California Uniform Trade Secrets Act ("UTSA") certainly protects such information, the UTSA also affords protection to much more common pieces of information. Civil Code sections 3426.1-3426.11.

For example, customer lists, business plans, spreadsheets, corporate minutes and agendas, and bid specifications can be afforded protection as trade secrets. See also LawLawLaw blog article defining it to include a compilaton of information that derives independent economic value from not being known to and not readily ascertainable by proper means by other persons. See also government contracting marking documents as "Company Proprietary".