Trade Secrets vs. Patents: The New Frontier in Life Sciences Intellectual Property

Rocket Launch
Last updated on: December 22, 2023
By: Tangibly

On this page

[vc_row][vc_column][us_image image=”607″ align=”center” link=”%7B%22type%22%3A%22popup_image%22%7D” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22margin-bottom%22%3A%222rem%22%7D%7D”][vc_column_text]The Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), enacted on May 11, 2016, introduced a federal civil cause of action for trade secret misappropriation, broadening the definition of trade secrets and offering potential seizure of property, injunctive relief, double damages, and a whistleblower safe harbor. This has given companies an additional tool to protect their intellectual property rights and easier access to federal district courts. However, the rise in trade secret claims in the life sciences is not solely due to the DTSA. Court decisions over the past decade have weakened patent claims in the life sciences, leading to an increase in trade secret cases. Many life sciences companies now prefer to keep their R&D data and diagnostic information as trade secrets, rather than risk their patents being declared ineligible or unenforceable. This trend is particularly evident with data-driven innovations, where trade secrets often provide better protection than patents.

In a recent article over at IAM titled Trade Secret Litigation Soars in the Life Sciences Industry, authors Tom Wintner , Nick Armington and Christina Scott (October, 02 2023) have some insight into this new frontier. Please enjoy the reprint shared here with permission. (Thank you, IAM!)[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”606″ align=”center” size=”full” link=”%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tangibly.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F12%2FTrade-secret-litigation-soars-in-the-life-sciences-industry.pdf%22%2C%22target%22%3A%22_blank%22%7D”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Articles

Blog, Guest Author Series, Release Notes

Streamlining Trade Secret Programs with SSO Integration

Tangibly is excited to announce the rollout of Single Sign-On (SSO) integration with Entra (Azure AD), Google, and Okta. This milestone is not just about stronger...
Blog, Featured Blogs, Guest Author Series, Trade Secret Strategy

Thoughts on Expanding the Scope of Reasonable Measures

In our experience “reasonable measures” to protect trade secrets has been historically grounded in legal and compliance frameworks. “Reasonableness” was primarily...
Blog, AI & IP, Featured Blogs

The New Face of IP in the AI Age: Why Trade Secrets Matter More Than Ever for Tech [Part 2 of 2]

Imagine this: A consultant starts a competing company after taking your proprietary information while under a confidentiality agreement. You promptly file a trade...
Blog, Case Law & Industry Trends, Featured Blogs, Guest Author Series

Quintara Biosciences v. Ruifeng: Is the federal DTSA grass always greener?

Is the federal DTSA grass always greener? Sometimes yes! Most people think that federal actions under DTSA are basically the same as state actions under UTSA, but...
Blog, Featured Blogs, Guest Author Series, Intro to Trade Secrets

Why Trade Secrets Deserve a Front Row Seat in Your Tech Startup’s IP Strategy

The conversation pivots to patents when tech startups talk IP. Patents are the 'big daddy' signals of tangible, visible defensibility in a pitch deck and investor...
Blog, Featured Blogs, Guest Author Series, Trade Secret Strategy

1+1 = 3: Finding the Synergy Between Patents and Trade Secrets

Business leaders are often told intellectual property (IP) protection is a fork in the road: patent it or keep it a trade secret. One path involves public disclosure in...
Blog, Featured Blogs, Guest Author Series, Trade Secret Strategy

The Hidden Half: How Shadow IT and Lean Function Complete Your Trade Secret Protection Strategy

When cybersecurity professionals discuss trade secret protection, the conversation typically centers on zero trust architecture, access controls, and the principle of...
Blog, Case Law & Industry Trends, Featured Blogs

Guarding the Edge: Why Trade Secret Protection Matters in the New NIL Era

Executive Summary The landscape of college athletics is undergoing a profound transformation. With the recent House v. NCAA settlement and the continued prominence of...
Blog, AI & IP, Featured Blogs

AI is eating your IP

Original Article in IAM Saturday Opinion on June 14, 2025: “AI Is Eating Your IP” Precis: Saturday Opinion: With the aid of Gemini, Tangibly’s Chris Buntel and Tim...
Blog, Featured Blogs, Guest Author Series

Behind The Curtain: Trade Secret Protection and Theft In Sports

Summary While everyone focuses on the action on the field, the data that makes this action possible is often overlooked. As this data becomes more valuable, it has also...