Intellectual property is often worth more to a business than its
tangible assets. Consisting of business strategies, images,
concepts and ideas, lawful protection of intellectual property
predates the U.S. Constitution. Now protected by patents,
trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, businesses must take
the appropriate steps to ensure that their intellectual property
is kept safe from competing businesses, defecting partners and
even employees. Becoming informed about the available legal
tools can mean the difference between success and failure. State
governments also allow for the registration of intellectual
property, although the protection provided is comparatively
limited. Furthermore, most state governments will only register
trademarks and will not allow the registration of copyrights or
patents. In most states, intellectual property registrations are
done through the Secretary of State. A trade secret is any piece
of information used by a business that isn't known to the
general public, including