Hybrid Use of Trade Secret and Patent Protection in Green Technology

The interplay between trade secret and patent protection has become more significant during the current domestic and international economic downturn. As companies around the world have tightened their belts, those engaged in green technology face even tougher challenges. Nascent green technology companies do not have established corporate coffers or easy access to credit. Rather, they are likely to rely heavily on venture capital or be very thinly capitalized. With additional financial hurdles and burdens, it may be more tempting for these companies to over rely on relatively less expensive forms of intellectual property to protect developing technologies. This is imprudent.