Trade secret protection is distinct from patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

Bailey C. Moseley, “McClain v. State,” 269 S.W.3d 191, 17 October 2008, pp. 6, Lexis.

The principal modes for protection of intellectual property rights include patent, copyright, trademark or trade dress, and trade secrets. Id. at 1-2. Unlike the other principal modes of intellectual property protection, trade secret protection only protects an owner from misappropriation of or the unlawful discovery of an idea. In order for there to be a violation of the right to protect a trade secret, the actor must have wrongfully acquired the information. Id. at 35.