Article
Trade Secret Law in Entrepreneurial Firms
Entrepreneurial firms rely heavily on innovation, proprietary knowledge, and strategic information to establish competitive advantage in dynamic and often uncertain markets. Among the various forms of intellectual property protection, trade secret law plays a particularly critical role for entrepreneurial firms due to its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and applicability to a wide range of intangible assets. This paper examines the role of trade secret law in entrepreneurial firms, focusing on how legal protection of confidential information influences innovation, firm growth, employee mobility, and competitive dynamics. It explores the legal foundations of trade secret protection, enforcement challenges, and the interaction between trade secret law and entrepreneurial risk-taking. Through doctrinal analysis and policy-oriented discussion, the paper argues that effective trade secret regimes can foster innovation and entrepreneurship while poorly balanced systems may stifle knowledge diffusion and labor mobility. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at optimizing trade secret law to support sustainable entrepreneurial development.