Secret recipes and trade secrets: protecting the family jewels
Thursday, January 28th, 2010Recipes for top performing food products are among the most jealously guarded business trade secrets in the world. Think secret sauce. Think Coca-Cola®. Think the Kentucky Fried Chicken®. Think Thomas’ English Muffins!
Bimbo Bakeries USA, the owner of Thomas’ English Muffins has sued a former 20 year employee in Pennsylvania, one of only 10 people in the world to whom the famous muffin recipe was entrusted. What did he do? He went to work for a competitor Hostess Brands Inc. and even though he hasn’t actually “stolen” any trade secrets, Bimbo says it’s inevitable that he’ll share his knowledge about the “special nooks and crannies.”
What do you think? Should the bad thing have to happen first? Or should a business be able to nip it in the bud?
Share your opinion below and also join me on February 3 at 8 pm Eastern (5 pm Pacific) for a free teleseminar with attorney Mark Saloman of Proskauer Rose, LLP on Ask the No Nonsense Lawyer when we’ll discuss how to protect your business trade secrets.
Click here now for more details.
