Skip to Main Content

Intellectual Property

Resources for researching copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secrets law.

Trade Secrets Law

  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (open access)
    The United States Patent and Trademark Office's trade secrets webpage provides a statement on the United States trade secret policy and a short explanatory video.  It also links to additional sources for trade secrets research.

  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (open access)
    The WIPO website has a FAQ section on trade secrets law, which is helpful for basic research.

  • Milgrim on Trade Secrets, by Roger M. Milgrim & Eric E. Benson (Temple Law access, via Lexis)
    Milgrim is the leading treatise on U.S. trade secrets law.

  • Trade Secrets Law, by Melvin F. Jager (Temple Law access, via Westlaw)
    This treatise "discusses trade secrets laws, key legal theories, and specifics of protecting trade secrets in all 50 states, the EU, and Japan."

  • Stealing Trade Secrets and Economic Espionage: An Overview of the Economic Espionage Act, by Charles Doyle (open access)
    This 2016 Congressional Research Services report details the Economic Espionage Act and provides information on violations of U.S. trade secrets law.

  • Advanced Trade Secrets 2021: New Risks, New Challenges, New Ideas, by Victoria A. Cundiff (Temple Law access, via PLI Plus)
    This practical guide on trade secrets litigation provides an analysis of recent trade secrets cases and discusses the challenges presented by remote working environments.

  • Trade Secret Law Including the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 in a Nutshell, by Sharon K. Sandeen & Elizabeth K. Rowe (Temple Law access, via West Academic Study Aids)
    Nutshells are designed to be easy-to-read but in-depth reviews of the law in a particular area; this one covers trade secret law.

  • Trade Secrets: A Legal Research Guide, compiled by Grace M. Mills (Temple University access, via HeinOnline Spinelli's Law Library Research Shelf)
    This research guide provides a variety of primary and secondary sources on trade secrets law.  Although published in 2013, it remains a helpful resource for finding information and materials concerning trade secrets.

  • Trade Secrets: Getting Started Research Guide, University of Iowa Law Library (open access)
    This trade secret law research guide includes primary and secondary sources, as well as links to websites and webpages for government and educational organizations.